Malaysian Monkeys

Malaysia Monkeys: Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country that has been separated into two primary regions: Peninsular Malaysia (also known as “West Malaysia”), which is located in the southern area of the Malay Peninsula; and East Malaysia, which is the portion of the island of Borneo that is owned by the Malaysian constitutional monarchy.

The nation has also been divided into 13 states and 3 territories within these two regions.

More than 360 mammals species live across West, and East Malaysia, with over 30 of them being endemic to the country Examples of mammals that are endemic to Malaysian land include:

The Bornean ferret badger (Melogale everetti).
The lesser pygmy flying squirrel (Petaurillus emiliae).
The mountain spiny rat (Maxomys alticola).

Malaysia is also home to various species of monkeys^[1]. However, most of them are considered endangered, primarily due to human habitat destruction and illegal poaching^[2]. Some examples of these species are the stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides), the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), and the white-thighed surili (Presbytis siamensis).

We shall explore all monkeys native to Malaysia.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pale-Thighed Langur

Species Name: Presbytis siamensis

The pale-thighed surili (Presbytis siamensis), also called the white-thighed langur, is a primate species in the Old World monkey family (Cercopithecidae). Pale-thighed langurs are savvy herbivores; it’s fun to say they only eat plants and have a fussy palate, with a preference for young leaves, seeds, and fruits.

Robinson's Banded Langur

Species Name: Presbytis robinsoni

Robinson’s banded langur (Presbytis robinsoni), also known as Robinson’s banded surili, is a monkey species in the Cercopithecidae family. Robinson Banded Langurs are generally shy and alert creatures, rarely leaving the comfort of the canopy.

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.

Selangor Silvered Langur

Species Name: Trachypithecus selangorensis

The Selangor silvered langur (Trachypithecus selangorensis) is a leaf monkey living on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Like most leaf monkeys, the Selangor silvered langur usually lives in groups of a single adult male and several adult females and their young offspring.

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).

Silvered Langur

Species Name: Trachypithecus cristatus

The silvery Lutung (Trachypithecus cristatus), also called the silvery langur or silvered leaf monkey is an Old-World monkey. Silvery Lutungs primarily live in trees.

Stump-tailed Macaque

Species Name: Macaca arctoides

The stump-tailed macaque, also known as the bear macaque, is an Old World monkey endemic to Cambodia, northeastern India, southwestern China, Myanmar, and Laos, from northwestern Peninsular Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

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.

White-fronted Langur

Species Name: Presbytis frontata

The white-fronted surili (Presbytis frontata) is a primate species in the Cercopithecidae family, the Old World monkeys. This species prefers to eat immature leaves than more mature leaves.

Key References

^[1] – “Primates in Malaysia | Malaysian Primatological Society”. Accessed July 30, 2022. Link.
^[2] – “Red List OF MAMMALS FOR PENINSULAR MALAYSIA”. Accessed July 30, 2022. Link.

Malaysian Monkeys