Germain's langur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Germain's langur |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
| Family: | Cercopithecidae |
| Genus: | Trachypithecus |
| Species group: | Trachypithecus cristatus group |
| Species: |
T. germaini
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| Binomial name | |
| Trachypithecus germaini (A. Milne-Edwards, 1876)
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| Joint range of Germain's langur and Annamese langur | |
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The Germain's langur (Trachypithecus germaini) is a type of Old World monkey. These monkeys live in parts of Asia, including Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. They are also known by other names like the Indochinese lutung or Indochinese leaf monkey.
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About Germain's Langurs
Germain's langurs are part of a group of monkeys called leaf monkeys. Scientists recognize two main types, or subspecies, of Germain's langur. These are Trachypithecus germaini germaini and Trachypithecus germaini caudalis.
What Do They Look Like?
Germain's langurs have mostly black fur on their hands, feet, and the upper part of their bodies. This black color fades to a lighter grey on their undersides. They have long, grey tails and white hairs around their round faces. Baby Germain's langurs are quite special because they have bright orange fur!
Where Do They Live?
These monkeys live in several countries in Asia. You can find them in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. In some places, like Vietnam, there are very few left. But in Thailand, they are quite common.
Germain's langurs usually live in low-lying areas. They prefer forests that stay green all year, or forests near rivers. They don't usually live in high mountains or hilly places.
What Do They Eat and Do?
Germain's langurs are mostly folivorous. This means their diet mainly consists of leaves, shoots, and fruits. They have also been seen eating mushrooms and even soil! Because they eat so many leaves, they need time to digest their food. They often rest to help their bodies process the leaves.
These monkeys usually live in groups, called troops. A troop can have anywhere from 10 to 50 langurs living together. While they spend a lot of time eating and resting, they also enjoy being close to their group members.
Dangers and How We Help
Germain's langurs face several threats in the wild. Large predators like leopards, tigers, dholes (wild dogs), and big snakes might hunt them. Smaller animals can also prey on young langurs.
The biggest dangers to Germain's langurs come from humans. People sometimes hunt them, or try to catch them to sell as pets. Their homes are also disappearing because forests are being cut down for farms.
The IUCN lists Germain's langur as an endangered species. This means their numbers have dropped by more than half in the last three generations. To help protect them, their trade is controlled by an international agreement called CITES Appendix II.
Even though they are endangered, not many special conservation efforts have been made just for them. However, many protected areas have been set up where they live. These protected areas help keep the monkeys safe. In Vietnam, for example, their numbers have actually grown in two protected areas. This shows how important these safe places are for the Germain's langur.
 | May Edward Chinn |
 | Rebecca Cole |
 | Alexa Canady |
 | Dorothy Lavinia Brown |
