Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Primates
- Family
- Cercopithecidae
- Genus
- Trachypithecus
Habitat
Purple-faced langurs primarily inhabit the forests of Sri Lanka, including wet zone rainforests, dry zone forests, and montane areas up to 2,000 meters. They prefer dense canopy cover for movement and feeding, and can also be found in plantations near natural forests.
Diet
Their diet mainly consists of leaves, fruits, flowers, and buds from trees like jackfruit and figs. They are folivorous and spend much of their day foraging in the treetops, typically feeding in the early morning and late afternoon to avoid the midday heat.
Behavior
Purple-faced langurs live in groups of 10-20 individuals, usually led by a dominant male, and exhibit strong social bonds through grooming and vocalizations. They are diurnal and arboreal, spending most of their time in trees with agile leaps, and defend territories using alarm calls. They are generally shy and retreat to higher branches when threatened.
Conservation Status
The IUCN classifies the Purple-faced langur as Endangered, with populations declining due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Major threats include deforestation for agriculture, urbanization, and hunting for the pet trade.