Mammals of the WorldPurple-faced Langur
Semnopithecus vetulus
- Order
- Primates
- Family
- Cercopithecidae
- Genus
- Semnopithecus
- IUCN status
- EN
- Distribution
- Sri Lanka
- Realm
- Indomalaya
Other names: Purple-faced Leaf Monkey|Purple-faced Monkey|Bear Monkey|Highland Purple-faced Langur|Montane Purple-faced Langur|Northern Purple-faced Langur|Dry Zone Purple-faced Langur|Western Purple-faced Langur|North Lowland Wet Zone Purple-faced Langur|Southern Lowland Wet Zone Purple-faced Langur|Southern Purple-faced Langur
About this species
- Size
- 50-67cm body male, 45-60cm female
- Weight
- 7-9kg male, 5-8kg female
- Diet
- Mostly leaves, favouring young leaves; also fruit, flowers and seeds
- Habitat
- Rainforest, evergreen, semi-deciduous and montane forest in the wet zone
- Gestation
- 6-7 months
The purple-faced langur has a dark brown to black face, with fluffy cream-coloured fur along the jawline like a beard. The body is dusty grey to dark brown or black, darkening at the hands and feet. The tail is longer than the body. Males weigh 7 to 9 kg and females 5 to 8 kg (New England Primate Conservancy).
It eats mostly leaves, favouring young ones, with fruit, flowers and seeds, and takes cultivated fruit such as jackfruit and bananas when available. It lives in the wet zone, including Sinharaja, Kitulgala and Horton Plains. Groups are usually one male with up to seven females, or bachelor groups. Gestation is 6 to 7 months. Nationally Endangered (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).
Description: Wildlife of Sri Lanka guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com)