Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Primates
- Family
- Cercopithecidae
- Genus
- Semnopithecus
Habitat
They primarily inhabit dry deciduous forests, grasslands, and scrublands in northern India, Nepal, and parts of Pakistan. These langurs are adaptable and can also be found in urban areas and agricultural lands near human settlements. They prefer elevations up to 1,500 meters and areas with access to trees for shelter.
Diet
Their diet mainly consists of leaves, fruits, flowers, and seeds from trees like Ficus species, supplemented by grasses and occasionally insects or crops. They are primarily folivorous but also eat ripe fruits when available, feeding mostly during the day in groups. Feeding behavior includes selective browsing to avoid toxic plants.
Behavior
They live in multi-male, multi-female troops led by a dominant male, with complex social interactions including grooming and vocal communications. These langurs are diurnal and arboreal, spending much of their time in trees but descending to the ground for food or water. They exhibit territorial behaviors like loud calls to defend their range and are known for playful activities among juveniles.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status is Least Concern, but populations are decreasing due to habitat loss and fragmentation from agriculture and urbanization. Major threats include road accidents and conflicts with humans over crop raiding.