Indonesian Monkeys | Monkeys & Apes Endemic To Indonesia

Indonesia Monkeys: Indonesia, the biggest country in Southeast Asia, is an archipelagic state comprised of more than 17,000 individual islands. Some of the biggest islands of the nation are Sulawesi, Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan (the Indonesian portion of Borneo).

Indonesia is home to 12% of all known mammal species^[1], many of which are endemic to the country; unfortunately, many are threatened^[2] due to habitat loss caused by mass deforestation, industrial production, and other human-caused issues. Examples of these species include the Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) and the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii).

Indonesia is also widely known to house various types of monkeys, such as macaques, gibbons, surilis and langurs. Some of the most famous monkey species endemic to Indonesia are the Celebes crested macaque (Macaca nigra), the Javan surili (Presbytis comata), and Miller’s langur (Presbytis canicrus).

Indonesian Monkeys and Apes

Here is the list of all monkey species native to Indonesia.

Black and White Langur

Species Name: Presbytis bicolor

The black-and-white langur is a primate species in the Cercopithecidae family. It was formerly thought to be a subspecies of the Presbytis melalophos (black-crested Sumatran langur). Still, the genetic analysis indicated they were separate species.

Black Sumatran Langur

Species Name: Presbytis sumatrana

The black Sumatran langur is a species of monkey in the Cercopithecidae family that is endemic to Indonesia’s Sumatra Island. Presbytis sumatrana was once considered a subspecies of Sumatran Surili. Still, genetic analysis has shown it to be a distinct species.

Black-Crested Sumatran Langur

Species Name: Presbytis melalophos

The black-crested Sumatran langur (Presbytis melalophos), also called the Mitred leaf monkey, is a primate species in the Cercopithecidae family. The black-crested Sumatran langur, Raffles’ banded langur, Sarawak surili, and black-and-white langur were formerly considered subspecies of Presbytis melalophos.

Booted Macaque

Species Name: Macaca ochreata

The booted macaque is a macaque native to Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island. This Old-World monkey is diurnal, spending most of the day in trees. A booted macaque monkey’s body mass is determined by its sex, with males significantly larger than females.

Bornean Gibbon

Species Name: Hylobates muelleri

Also known as the Müller’s or gray gibbon, the Bornean gibbon is native to the Bornean Island, which is divided between the nations of Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Bornean Orangutan

Species Name: Pongo pygmaeus

The Bornean orangutan is native to the Borneo Island. Along with Pongo abelii (the Sumatran orangutan) and Pongo tapanuliensis (the Tapanuli orangutan), it belongs to the only genus of great apes endemic to Asia.

Crab-Eating Macaque

Species Name: Macaca fascicularis

The crab-eating macaque also called the long-tailed macaque and known in laboratories as the cynomolgus monkey, is a primate monkey endemic to Southeast Asia. Crab-eating macaque macaques live in multi-male groups comprising around 30 members.

Crested Black Macaque

Species Name: Macaca nigra

The Crested Black Macaque, also called the Sulawesi Crested Macaque or Celebes Crested Macaque is an Old World monkey native to the Tangkoko Game Reserve in the extreme northeast of the Indonesian island of Celebes (Sulawesi) and neighboring islets.

Cross Marked Langur

Species Name: Presbytis chrysomelas

The Sarawak surili, also known as Cross-marked Langur, is a monkey species in the Cercopithecidae family. The Sarawak surili was once considered widespread but has declined significantly due to habitat and loss persecution.

East Javan Langur

Species Name: Trachypithecus auratus

The East Javan langur, also called the Javan lutung, Javan langur, or ebony langur is an Old-World primate in the subfamily Colobinae. As with all langurs, the East Javan langur is a social animal, living in groups of about 7 individuals, with 1 or 2 adult males in the group.

East Sumatran Banded Langur

Species Name: Presbytis percura

The East Sumatran banded langur also called the East Sumatran banded surili are primarily found in the fragmented landscape of pulp and rubber plantations. These surilis are shy and alert creatures, rarely leaving the comfort of their canopies.

Gorontalo Macaque

Species Name: Macaca nigrescens

The Gorontalo macaque (Macaca nigrescens), also called the Dumoga-bone macaque, is a species of the primate of the Cercopithecidae family. It is native to the Sulawesi Island of Indonesia.

Heck's Macaque

Species Name: Macaca hecki

The Heck’s Macaque (Macaca hecki) is a macaque native to Sulawesi, Indonesia. This Old-World monkey is diurnal. Due to their frugivorous diet, Heck’s macaques will likely act as seed dispersers throughout their habitat.

Hose's Langur

Species Name: Presbytis hosei

The Hose’s langur (Presbytis hosei) is a primate species in the Cercopithecidae family native to the island of Borneo, which includes Brunei, Kalimantan (Indonesia), and eastern Malaysia. The species was first identified in 1985 in Sangkulirang Peninsula and Kutai National Park in East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Javan Surili

Species Name: Presbytis comata

The grizzled surili (Presbytis comata) is a threatened species of Old World monkey native to the western half of Java, Indonesia, a biodiversity hotspot. The grizzled surili engages in 3 to 4 foraging and feeding fights throughout the day.

Kloss's Gibbon

Species Name: Hylobates klossii

Kloss’s gibbon (Hylobates klossii), also called the dwarf siamang, Mentawai gibbon, or Bilou, is an endangered primate in the gibbon family Hylobatidae. Kloss’s gibbons are territorial, with semi-adult males and adolescents working with their fathers to protect the group’s territory.

Lar Gibbon

Species Name: Hylobates lar

The lar gibbon (Hylobates lar), also called the white-handed gibbon, is another endangered mammal in the gibbon family, Hylobatidae. It is among the best-known gibbons and is occasionally kept in captivity. Lar gibbons have a two-tone coat.

Maroon Langur

Species Name: Presbytis rubicunda

Endemic to the jungles of Borneo in Indonesia and Malaysia, red leaf monkeys get their name from their shaggy reddish-maroon fur. They are also known as maroon-leaf monkeys and maroon langurs.

Mentawai Langur

Species Name: Presbytis potenziani

Mentawai Langur is also called the Long-Tailed Langur, and it is native to the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia. The pelage of Mentawai langur is medium length, longer on the back of the shoulders and anterior of the flanks and shorter on the face, neck, abdomen, and under the thighs.

Miller's Langur

Species Name: Presbytis canicrus

Miller’s Langur (Presbytis canicrus), also called the Kutai Gray Langur, is the rarest of the four Hosei subspecies, all of which are native to the island of Borneo. One of the world’s most endangered primates, Miller’s langur, was once considered extinct until it was rediscovered in 2013.

Mitered Langur

Species Name: Presbytis mitrata

The mitered langur has brown or gray fur on its back, darker, while it is even darker on its belly and the arms, legs, and tail. These Indonesian primates live in groups of 1 male with 5 to 17 females.

Moor Macaque

Species Name: Macaca maura

The moor macaque (Macaca maura) is a brown/black haired macaque with a pale rump and bare pink rump skin. Moor macaques appear to be a relatively tolerant macaque species, showing low levels of aggression between group members.

Natuna Island Surili

Species Name: Presbytis natunae

The Natuna Island Surili (Presbytis natunae) is a primate species in the Cercopithecidae family. The species is native to the Indonesian island of Natuna Besar. The species is native to the Indonesian island of Natuna Besar.

North Sumatran Leaf Monkey

Species Name: Presbytis thomasi

The North Sumatran leaf monkey (Presbytis thomasi), also called Thomas’s langur, is a primate species in the Cercopithecidae family. The North Sumatran leaf monkeys spend most of the day in groups resting, moving, or feeding.

Pagai Island Macaque

Species Name: Macaca pagensis

The Pagai island macaque (Macaca pagensis), also called the Pagai or Bokkoi macaque is an Old-World monkey native to the Mentawai Islands on the west coast of Sumatra. Groups of Pagai Island macaques consist of approximately 5 to 25 individuals.

Pig-tailed Langur

Species Name: Simias concolor

The pig-tailed langur (Simias concolor), monotypic in the Simias genus, is a great Old-World monkey native to several small islands off Sumatra, Indonesia. Adult pig-tailed langurs have black faces and small, turned-up noses.

Saban Grizzled Langur

Species Name: Presbytis sabana

Saban Grizzled Langur was once thought to be a subspecies of the Hose’s langur, Presbytis hosei (as Presbytis hosei sabana). The Saban grizzled langur is endemic to the island of Borneo in the Malaysian province of Sabah, with part of its range in Indonesia.

Siamang Gibbon

Species Name: Symphalangus syndactylus

The siamang gibbon (Symphalangus syndactylus) is a black-coated arboreal gibbon endemic to the forests of Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is the only species in the genus Symphalangus. The siamang’s body is perfectly adapted to a life of swinging from branch to branch (also called brachiation).

Siberut Langur

Species Name: Presbytis siberu

Siberut langurs are native to the islands of North Pagai, South Pagai, and Sipora. Siberut langurs spend over 80 percent of their time resting and foraging and only a tiny portion traveling and socializing.

Siberut Macaque

Species Name: Macaca siberu

The Siberut macaque (Macaca siberu) is an endangered macaque species native to the island of Siberut in Indonesia. It was previously thought to be conspecific with the Pagai Island macaque (Macaca pagensis), which is paler overall, but this arrangement was polyphyletic.

Silvery Gibbon

Species Name: Hylobates moloch

The silvery gibbon (Hylobates moloch), also called the Javan gibbon, is a primate in the gibbon family, Hylobatidae. Silvery gibbons are tree dwellers and feel just as comfortable in the upper canopy as in the undergrowth.

Sumatran Orangutan

Species Name: Pongo abelii

The Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) is one of 3 species of orangutan. This Asian primate is critically endangered and found only on the Indonesian island of North Sumatra.

Sunda Pig-Tailed Macaque

Species Name: Macaca nemestrina

The pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina), also called the Sundaland pig-tailed macaque and Sunda pig-tailed macaque is a medium-sized macaque native to southern Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Pig-tailed macaques also have long legs and hairless snouts.

Tapanuli Orangutan

Species Name: Pongo tapanuliensis

The Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) is an orangutan species restricted to the southern Tapanuli on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It was described as a distinct species in 2017. The three species of orangutans can be difficult to tell apart.

Key References

^[1] – “Indonesia’s Rainforests: Biodiversity and Endangered Species – Rainforest Action Network”. Accessed July 28, 2022. Link.
^[2] – “Endangered species threatened by unsustainable palm oil production | Stories | WWF”. Accessed July 28, 2022. Link.

Indonesian Monkeys and Apes

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