Red-Shanked Douc Langur

• Common Name: Douc langur
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 1771
• Monkey Size: 61 to 76.2 cm (24.02 to 30.00 in)
• Skin Color(s): Gray
• Habitat: Rainforest
• Diet: Herbivorous
• Native Countries: Vietnam, Cambodia, China

The red-shanked douc langur^[1] is an Old-World monkey species that is one of the most colorful primates.

• Different Douc langur species can be distinguished by the color of their shanks or legs.
• Sometimes called “the costumed monkey, ” the red-shanked douc langur is one of the most colorful primates.
• The monkey’s orange and yellow face and ears are dusted with theatrical makeup, and the eyelids are dusted with light blue eyeshadow.
• Dark almond eyes see the world, and small nostrils inhale the scent of the forest habitat from a modest nose.
• Long, white whiskers (more prominent in males) adorn the chin and frame the alien face of the monkey. A wide black stripe runs across the monkey’s forehead.

• Red-shanked douc langurs are genetically similar to gray-shanked douc langurs; however, they are considered a different species due to their different biological characteristics.
• Like other douc langur species, red-shanked douc langurs leap from branch to branch, pushing off with their legs and landing their feet-first on the next branch.
• The red-shanked Douc langur has a multi-chambered stomach and breaks down its food with bacteria through a process known as fermentation.
• Adult males take the lead in foraging in a group, females and babies take the middle position, and young males in the group follow at the back.
• In terms of mating, males and females “stare” at each other by thrusting their jaws forward, lowering and raising their eyebrows, and shaking their heads.