Popa langur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Popa langur |
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Trachypithecus
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popa
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The Popa langur (Trachypithecus popa) is a type of monkey found only in Myanmar. It belongs to the primate family, just like humans and other monkeys. This special langur was named after Mount Popa, a mountain in Myanmar where about 100 of these monkeys live. Sadly, there are very few Popa langurs left in the wild. Experts believe only about 200 to 250 adult monkeys remain. Because of this, it is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, meaning it's at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
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Discovering the Popa Langur
The Popa langur was officially recognized as a new species in 2020. What's interesting is that it wasn't discovered by scientists exploring jungles. Instead, its discovery happened in a lab!
How Scientists Found It
Scientists studied the relationships between different types of langurs. They used special tools to look at the DNA from monkey poop samples collected in the wild. They also studied tissue samples from langur specimens kept in museums for many years.
Comparing with Other Langurs
As part of their research, scientists compared the Popa langur with another type of monkey called the Phayre's langur. They looked closely at museum specimens of both. They found small differences in their fur, skulls, and colors. These tiny differences helped them confirm that the Popa langur was a unique species.
What Does the Popa Langur Look Like?
The Popa langur has a unique appearance. Its back is usually a dark brown or grey-brown color. Its belly, however, is white, which creates a nice contrast.
Distinctive Features
Its hands and feet are black. One of the most noticeable features of the Popa langur is the white rings around its eyes. It also has a white area around its mouth. An adult Popa langur weighs about 8 kilograms (about 17.6 pounds).
Where Do Popa Langurs Live?
The Popa langur lives in central Myanmar. Its main home is around Mount Popa. This area is very important for the survival of these rare monkeys.
Protecting the Popa Langur
The Popa langur is in great danger. Its small population faces several big threats.
Main Threats to Survival
One threat is hunting. Another major problem is habitat destruction. This happens when the forests where they live are cut down or changed. Their habitat is also becoming broken up into smaller pieces, which is called habitat fragmentation. This makes it harder for the monkeys to find food and other langurs. Protecting their homes is key to helping them survive.
See also
- List of primates described in the 2020s
