Animal Info - Douc Monkey

(Other Names: Cochin China Monkey; Cochin China, Douc, Red-shanked or Red-shanked Douc Langur; Douc; Douc or Red-shanked Douc Monkey; Langur Douc; Mono Pigatrix; Rhinopithèque Douc)

Pygathrix nemaeus

Status: Endangered

1. Profile (Picture)
2. Tidbits
3. Status and Trends (IUCN Status, Countries Where Currently Found, History of Distribution, Threats and Reasons for Decline)
4. Data on Biology and Ecology (Size, Habitat, Age to Maturity, Gestation Period, Birth Season, Birth Rate, Diet, Behavior, Social Organization)
5. References

Profile

Pictures: Douc Monkey #1 (7 Kb JPEG) (Kids Ecol. Corps); Douc Monkey #2 (41 Kb JPEG) (Primate Cons. Inc.); Douc Monkey #3 (41 Kb GIF)

The douc monkey has a length of 61 - 76 cm (24 - 30"). It is found in tropical rain forest and monsoon forest, including both primary and secondary forest, from sea level to 2000 m (6560'). Its diet is comprised of a variety of leaves and certain fruits. The douc monkey is arboreal and diurnal. Groups of douc monkeys usually consist of 4 - 15 individuals. They include 1 or more adult males, and usually about twice as many adult females as males.

In 1967 the douc monkey was thought to occur in China (only from 1 female recorded from Hainan Island), Laos and Vietnam. In the early 1980's, it was reported to occur only in Laos and Vietnam. By 1996 it was thought to occur in Cambodia, China, Laos and Vietnam.

Reasons for the douc monkey's decline include hunting for food by natives and military personnel; loss of its forest habitat; and environmental disruption by military activity during the Viet Nam War, including the widespread use of defoliants and bombing.

Tidbits

*** As of 1967 the douc monkey was completely unstudied. Even by 1987 little was known of its habits in the wild.

Status and Trends

IUCN Status:

1960's - 1994: Endangered
1996 - 2004: Endangered (Criteria: A1cd) (IUCN 2004)

Countries Where the Douc Monkey Is Currently Found:

2004: Occurs in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (IUCN 2004).

History of Distribution:

In 1967 the douc monkey was thought to occur in China (only from 1 female recorded from Hainan Island), Laos and Vietnam. In 1972 it was thought to occur in Annam, Laos and Vietnam. In the early 1980's, it was reported to occur only in Laos and Vietnam. By 1996 it was thought to occur in Cambodia, China, Laos and Vietnam. In 2000 it was reported to occur in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Distribution Map (29 Kb JPEG) (Spec. Cons. Found.)

Threats and Reasons for Decline:

Reasons for the douc monkey's decline include hunting for food by natives and military personnel; loss of its forest habitat; and environmental disruption by military activity during the Viet Nam War, including the widespread use of defoliants and bombing.

Data on Biology and Ecology

Size:

The douc monkey has a length of 61 - 76 cm (24 - 30") not including its tail.

Habitat:

The douc monkey is found in tropical rain forest and monsoon forest, including both primary and secondary forest, from sea level to 2000 m (6560').

The douc monkey is found in both the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot (Cons. Intl. 2005) and the Eastern Indochina Dry & Monsoon Forests Global 200 Ecoregions. (Olson & Dinerstein 1998, Olson & Dinerstein 1999)

Age to Maturity:

Females: 4 years; males: 4 - 5 years

Gestation Period:

Estimated to be 165 - 190 days.

Birth Season:

Probably mainly between February and June.

Birth Rate:

Usually one young per birth; twins are rare.

Diet:

The douc monkey eats a variety of leaves and certain fruits.

Behavior:

The douc monkey eats a variety of leaves and certain fruits. The douc monkey is arboreal and diurnal.

Social Organization:

Groups of douc monkeys usually consist of 4 - 15 individuals. They include 1 or more adult males, and usually about twice as many adult females as males.

References

Burton & Pearson 1987, Cons. Intl. 2005, Curry-Lindahl 1972, The Douc Langur Project 1998, IUCN 1968, IUCN 1994, IUCN 1996, IUCN 2000, IUCN 2003a, IUCN 2004, Kids Ecol. Corps, Macdonald 1984, Nowak & Paradiso 1983, Olson & Dinerstein 1998, Olson & Dinerstein 1999, Phila Zoo 1996, Primate Cons. Inc., San Diego Zoo, Spec. Cons. Found.

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Last modified: October 21, 2005;