Langur - description, habitat, lifestyle

The family of langurs belongs to the genus of monkeys, they include more than ten different species. In addition to this name, these monkeys have another thing - thinbodies. In Hindi, the word "langur" has the meaning of "long tail", but you can use this definition unmistakably only to one of the varieties of these monkeys - Hanuman.

Description and habitat

Now the main territory where the langurs live is India, where they are often monkeys at temples, as well as the island of Sri Lanka and Nepal.

One of the characteristic features of these animals is the three-chamber structure of the stomach. Depending on the size, small and medium langurs are distinguished. An adult monkey can grow from 45 to 80 centimeters, depending on the particular animal species. In addition, the tail of the langur itself often reaches a length of 1 meter.

The muzzle of the monkey is rounded, rather short in front, the eyes are close, and the nose does not protrude beyond the face. Usually, the tail and limbs of the langur are quite thin, while they differ in strength and tenacity. In addition to fairly long paws, elongated fingers can be noted, among which only the first is relatively shorter than the others.

In addition to growth, belonging to a particular species determines the color of the animal’s hair. It is for this reason that the description of the appearance of the langur can be considered generalized and collective. Mostly langur fur is quite fluffy, plain, the shades on different parts of the body may vary slightly: paws and back area are darkish, while the abdomen is slightly lighter.

Some species of these monkeys have bright contrasting spots on their heads. Often you can meet a Nemean langur, whose color is colorful and bright. The muzzle of the animal is yellow, the head area is decorated with a clear brown stripe, and the tail has a white color. Again, for example, Javanese langur may have a rich brown-red tint or ash-gray.

Also, langur has rather long hair on its head, which is a characteristic external feature of this animal. Observing it from afar or in photographs, it can be assumed that a crown is worn on the head of the monkey, or the hairstyle resembles a comb.

Character traits and habits of the langur

Being a primate, the langur can easily travel enormous distances, while not descending to the surface of the earth. To do this, the monkey makes strong jumps, using branches for support.

If the branch that the langur has chosen for itself is located at a certain distance from it, the animal first begins to swing on the branch, using the strength of its paws, and then makes a jump, whose length thus increases. When a monkey has to descend to the ground, it uses all four limbs to move, resting on them.

In the natural habitat, you can meet a large flock of langurs, which includes up to 65 primates. Inside it there will certainly be a dominant male - the leader, as well as several ordinary males of the langur.

Among the other inhabitants of the flock are females, their cubs and adolescents. When the langur grows, he does not leave his company until he reaches puberty.As usual, each monkey has its own personal territory in its arrangement, which it is guarded with great care.

What does langur eat

It is worth paying attention to the fact that representatives of the langur breed almost never get into the zoo. The reason for this is simple: this monkey is notable for its great pickiness in feeding, therefore, in conditions of keeping in the aviary, this animal is quite difficult to feed. Being in a natural environment, a primate can easily find food for himself.

Due to the special structure of its stomach, langur may for a long time try to find a new source of food for itself, but for this it needs to be eaten sufficiently tightly first. Thus, constantly moving and wandering through the forest, the primate almost always searches for food for himself, periodically stopping to rest.

In addition, it is not uncommon for langur or a whole flock of monkeys to visit individual settlements if they are located in close proximity to a wooded area. There they try to find food for themselves, if this could not be done in their usual habitat. And in most cases, the inhabitants of the settlements do not interfere with the langurs looking for food in their gardens and courtyards, because this animal is considered sacred. Most residents of villages and villages even purposely keep some food near their home.

Among the fundamental products that langurs eat, one can distinguish tree leaves, pieces of bark, various fruits and other fragments of forest vegetation that are suitable for eating. In addition, it will not disdain bird eggs or large insects. But, of course, the dessert for the langur is juicy and tasty fruits that they can find on their own territory.

Monkey Life and Breeding

Langurs, along with other species of monkeys that live in the pack, are tightly attached to their own cubs. Until the babies reach adulthood, they continue to live with their parents in the same monkey flock.

The appearance of babies in the world is not determined by specific time periods. In other words, a female can give birth to a baby in any season and month, but only once during a year and a half to two years. The mating ritual starts with the lure of a female male from her own flock that attracted her.

She does this under the influence of hormones. Outwardly, the lure looks like a slight shake of the head in different directions. After the male responds with consent to the courtship, the couple copulates. The mating act itself may consist of a number of approaches.

The baby is born for about six months, then the baby is born. In the vast majority of situations, the female langur produces one baby. Immediately after birth, the little langur grips mom’s waist tightly, which allows him to move with her.

Initially, the calf has a light color of fur, which with the passage of time becomes darker. It is unusual that with a small weight, which is equal to about half a kilogram, the length of the body of the cub can reach already 20 cm

During the first one and a half years of life, the monkey eats mother’s milk, slowly switching to foods typical of an adult animal.

At the age of about a couple of years, a period of maturity sets in, and then the monkey can leave its own flock. The maximum life span of a langur can reach as much as 31 years, but this happens extremely rarely.

Video: Langur (Presbytis)