Tarai gray langur


The Tarai gray langur is an Old World monkey, and was formerly considered a subspecies of the northern plains gray langur. The species is listed as Near Threatened, as there are probably not many more than 10,000 mature individuals, and it is experiencing a continuing decline.
It is one of several Semnopithecus species named after characters from The Iliad, along with Semnopithecus ajax and Semnopithecus priam.

Distribution and habitat

The Tarai gray langur is native to northern India, Bhutan, and Nepal, and inhabits the Himalayan foothills from Rajaji National Park to southwestern Bhutan. It also lives in the moist deciduous forest of the Siwalik Hills to oak forest ranging from altitudes of.

Ecology and behaviour

Tarai gray langurs are arboreal, mainly terrestrial, diurnal, folivorous, and occur in multi-male multi-female groups. They have been observed feeding in orchards and crop fields outside of Rajaji National Park.