Red-shanked Douc langurs have black legs with maroon "leg warmers" from knee to ankle, and white "gloves" which contrast with their black hands. Their beautiful golden faces is framed by a white ruff, which is considerably fluffier in males. The eyelids are a soft powder blue. The tail is white with a triangle of white hair at the base. Males of all ages have white spot on both sides of the corners of the rump patch, females don't have these. Douc langurs are among the most colourful and attractive primates, in fact, probably the most colourful of mammals! Indeed, they are sometimes called the "costumed ape" for their outlandish colours.
Douc langurs eat mainly leaves, petioles and buds, supplemented with fruits and seeds. These provide them adequate protein and fluids. Doucs eat 50 different plant species but no animal prey. They are pot-bellied because their digestive system is adapted to eat large quantities of leaves.
They live in groups averaging 4-15 but up to 30-50. There is 1 or more males and usually 2 females per male. Males and females have their own hierarchies, and males are dominant to females. Both males and females leave their natal group.
The red-shanked Douc langur is only in Vietnam and Laos. Once thought to be rare with limited distributions, fieldwork shows that Doucs are widespread and found in a variety of habitats: monsoon, deciduous, lowland to montane up to 2,000m, primary as well as secondary forests. They are 61-76cm tall, tail 56-76cm long, males up to 7kg, females up to 5kg. No colour differences between genders. Lifespan 25 years or more. |
