Tufted Gray Langur

Fascinating facts about the Tufted Gray Langur

• The crown hairs of the tufted gray langur grow into a distinct pointed crest that meets at a single tip, which is why the species bears its name. Black eyebrows jut outward from the forehead, framing the face. A short whitish beard and side-burns run along the cheeks, while the head colour is almost the same as the back, giving the monkey a uniform look. These facial features together make it easy to recognise the animal in the wild.
• On Sri Lanka the tufted gray langur is the largest native primate when average size is considered, even though it appears relatively slender. Individuals of the Sri Lankan subspecies typically weigh between 6.8 and 13.4 kg, making them the biggest primates on the island. By contrast, the Indian subspecies is somewhat larger, with the average adult weighing about 12.8 kg and measuring 61.1 cm from head to body.
• The langur often perches high in trees where its keen eyesight lets it spot danger early, and it frequently sits beside herds of spotted deer to sound an alarm when a predator approaches. When a threat is detected, the monkey may drop fruit from the canopy, providing the deer with a ready food source. In return, the deer's excellent sense of smell helps it detect predators early and warn the langur of any approaching danger, creating a mutual alert system.
• The tufted gray langur's diet is unusually rich in the toxin strychnine, which can be harmful to many animals. To counteract this, the monkey habitually chews the gum of Sterculia urens, a natural antidote it seeks out when feeding on leaves and other vegetation. This gum has even been exported to England where it is sold as the prescription laxative Normacol, providing a medicinal use beyond the forest.
• Troops of tufted gray langurs usually consist of twenty to fifty members that travel together across forest patches and even into urban gardens. These groups are highly territorial, with individuals remaining in the same area for long periods. Large troops are typically coordinated by both dominant males and females, while smaller groups are led by a single alpha male, reflecting their flexible social structure.

Sources

Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.

• Wikipedia

At a glance

About the Tufted Gray Langur

In the lush canopies of the Indian subcontinent, the tufted gray langur reigns supreme, its agile form weaving effortlessly through the trees with a fluidity that belies its sturdy build. As it moves, the langur's distinctive gray coat glistens in the dappled light, its tufted crown a striking accent that sets it apart from its more somber-hued cousins. With a quiet confidence, the langur surveys its kingdom, its large, expressive eyes missing nothing as it navigates the intricate social hierarchies of its troop.

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