Order : PRIMATES
Family : Cercopithecidae
Species : Pygathrix nigripes

Head-body length : 61-76 cm
Tail length : 56-76 cm
Weight : males 11 kg, females 8 kg

The Black-shanked Douc is one of three species of the genus Pygathrix from Indochina, the other two being the Red-shanked Douc and the Grey-shanked Douc. These are part of the 'odd-nosed group' of Asian colobine monkeys, which also includes the Proboscis Monkey Nasalis larvatus from Borneo.

Doucs are mainly arboreal, but reportedly the Black-shanked Douc will also come down to the ground on occasion. This readiness to descend from the trees may partly explain its ability to thrive in mixed forest, including evergreen or deciduous primary forest, as well as disturbed forest.

Its diet is wholly vegetarian, comprising a variety of plant matter including leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds.

Its colouration is complex. Its back and crown are dark grey, and its arms and legs are black. The belly is medium grey, and the throat whitish, but burnished with orange which forms a vague collar around the top of the chest.

The face is largely devoid of fur, and the skin is mainly bluish-grey which is unique to the species (the other two species of douc have yellow-brown facial skin). Beneath the eyes the skin is orange. Beneath the ears there is brownish fur which appears somewhat like sideburns. The tail is long and white.

The Black-shanked Douc is considered to be endangered due to destruction of habitat and hunting for traditional medicine and the pet trade.

This species occurs in forest fragments in south-central Vietnam, where they perhaps number around 4000 individuals. Encouragingly, in 2007  a surprisingly large population numbering around 40,000 or so was documented in the Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area in eastern Cambodia (Pollard et al, 2007). 

The existence of this species in Laos appears uncertain.

Figs 1 and 2 : This adult, from mixed forest in southern Vietnam, was active in the morning and appeared to be searching for food.

Photos extracted from video filmed by Andie Ang.


References :

Francis, C.M. 2019. A Field Guide to the Mammals of South-east Asia. Second Edition. New Holland. 416 pp.

Pollard, E., Clements, T., Nut, M.H., Sok, K., Rawson, B. 2007. Status and Conservation of Globally Threatened Primates in the Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area, Cambodia. Wildlife Conservation Society.


Links :

Wildlife Conservation Society : Unexpected Large Monkey Population Discovered