Francois’ Langur

More Information

Francois’ langurs have black fur with a strip of white running from the corners of their mouth up to their ears. They also have a tall, pointed crest of hair on their head. Adults measure between 18.5–25 inches long and have a tail that is longer than their body, up to 38 inches in length.

They are social animals and spend time in groups of up to 12 individuals. They vocalize to mark territory and alert others if threatened. As with other leaf-eating monkeys, they spend much of their day resting while their body breaks down food. Females give birth every 20 months or so after a six- to seven-month gestation. Young females reach maturity at age 4, while males do so at age 5 and leave their group at that time.

Did You Know?

• These primates are found in moist subtropical and tropical rainforests at up to 5,000 feet in elevation. They often live in areas with limestone, so they use caves and rocky overhangs as shelter.
• Their infants are born with bright red and orange fur, which helps adults keep track of their young. After several months, the fur develops into the darker and less conspicuous coloring of the adults.
• Francois’ langurs practice alloparenting, which means that other troop members help care for offspring. This allows mothers to forage and strengthens the social bonds within the group.