Reproduction

How does the northern plains gray langur produce its young?

Males and females will mate with multiple partners during the breeding season.

A female will give birth to a single young though twins are possible on rare occasions. The young are born after a 200 to 212 day gestation period.

Initially the young will be cared for by their mother with other females assisting her within the first few weeks of life.

At birth the young have darker fur than the adults which will lighten as they grow. Their skin begins pale but darkens as they grow.

Young start to eat their own food at six weeks old but won't begin weaning until 8 months old. They don't achieve independence till 2 years old.

Females mature first between 3 and 4 years old compared to males at 6 to 7 years old. Females remain in their birth group for life but males will be drive out of the group at sexual maturity.

When a new male takes over a group he will kill any young which are present within it.

Behavior

What does the northern plains gray langur do with its day?

These animals are considered arboreal and spend much of their time in the trees. Despite this they will be seen on the ground in areas with few trees.

Northern plains gray langurs are active during the day. Unlike other primates they spend much of their time on the ground. At night they take to the trees to sleep. Sleeping position is determined by the individual's place in the hierarchy with more dominant individuals higher in the trees where it is safer.

They are a social species. If food is in abundant groups can grow to include multiple males and several females. In areas where food is scarce they tend to have only a single adult male which will head up the group.

Males which can not join a group will move around together.

Within the group their is a dominance hierarchy within both genders.

A range of vocalizations are produced by this species including a grunt, bark or whoop. These can carry over long distances.

Credit: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Predators and Threats

What is impacting the survival of the northern plains gray langur?

Natural predators of this species include leopards, dholes, tigers, wolves and jackals.

They have been subject to increasing predation due to deforestation which has increased access to them.

Populations of the northern plains gray langur are decreasing. An estimate of their population has not been established.

These animals are threatened by habitat loss and fires. They may also be hunted for food particularly around recently settled areas.

In some areas they are considered sacred and given food at temple sites.

Quick facts

They may also be known as the hanuman langur or sacred langur.

Their alternate name of hanuman langur is taken from the monkey-god in the Hindu religion.

This species was first described for western science in 1797.

These animals are one of eight gray langur species. Previously these individuals were grouped together under a single species using the scientific name, Semnopithecus entellus.