Capped langur

The capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) is a primate species in the family Cercopithecidae native to subtropical and tropical dry forests in northeast India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. It is arboreal and feeds on 43 plant species.

Capped langur
Capped langur in Manas National Park
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Haplorhini
Infraorder:	Simiiformes
Family:	Cercopithecidae
Genus:	Trachypithecus
Species:	T. pileatus[2]
Binomial name
Trachypithecus pileatus[2] (Blyth, 1843)
Capped langur range

Taxonomy

The capped langur was described by Edward Blyth in 1843. Four subspecies of the capped langur are recognized as of 2005:^[2]

• T. p. pileatus
• T. p. durga
• T. p. brahma
• T. p. tenebricus

Distribution and habitat

Capped langur sitting on a tree along the Manas River

The capped langur occurs in northeast India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, where it inhabits subtropical and tropical dry forests.^[1]

Behavior and ecology

Capped langur mother with infant in Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary

Capped langurs observed in Arunachal Pradesh spent nearly 40% of the day time feeding on leaves, flowers and fruits. Leaves contributed nearly 60% of the diet, and they foraged on as many as 43 different plant species.^[3]

References

1. Das, J.; Chetry, D.; Choudhury, A. & Bleisch, W. (2020). "Trachypithecus pileatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22041A196580469. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22041A196580469.en. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
2. Groves, C. P. (2005). "Species Trachypithecus pileatus". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 177. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
3. Solanki, G.S.; Kumar, A & Sharma, B.K. (2008). "Winter food selection and diet composition of capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) in Arunachal Pradesh, India". Tropical Ecology. 49 (2): 157–166.