Presbytis canicrus (Miller, 1934)
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6867065 |
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6863388 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/CE199B17-FF98-FF9D-FA03-6405F7DCF5F4 |
treatment provided by |
Jonas |
scientific name |
Presbytis canicrus |
status |
|
110. View Plate 47: Cercopithecidae
Miller’s Langur
Presbytis canicrus View in CoL
French: Langur de Miller / German: Kalimantan-Langur / Spanish: Langur de Miller
Other common names: Miller's Grizzled Langur
Taxonomy. Semnopithecus canicrus G. S. Miller, 1934 ,
Indonesia, East Kalimantan (Dutch north-east Borneo).
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. Borneo, confined to an area of E Kalimantan, from the Kayan and Sembakung (= Sebuku) rivers in the N, S, and SW to the Mahakam River, the W boundary is not well known but certainly E of the Apau Kayan and the Kayan Mentarang National Park. View Figure
Descriptive notes. eds 48-56 cm, tail 65-84 cm; weight 6-7 kg (males) and 5.5-6 kg (females). Hairs of upperparts of Miller’s Langur are iron-gray with whitish tips, giving an overall grizzled effect. Underside is grayish to buffy-white, turning white on inner sides of limbs, and hands and feet are black—this tone sometimes extending to lower parts of legs. Crown crest is black, with remainder of crown sometimes blackish. Facial skin is pinkish on lower jaw and cheeks, and darker (reddish or black) elsewhere. Miller’s Langur is a small, long-tailed form, generally similar to the Sabah Grizzled Langur ( P. sabana ), but crown is wholly brownish and underside is buffy-white; its facial skin is blackish down to a line between mouth and ears, at which point it becomes whitish-buff.
Habitat. Lowland to hill dipterocarp rainforest. Elevational range is sea level up to c.1000 m, with occasional records up to 1600 m and possibly higher. Miller’s Langur (referred to at the time as P. aygula ) was studied by P. Rodman in lowland (up to 300 m) dipterocarp forest and riparian forest along the Sengata River in Kutai National Park in East Kalimantan. Densities were slightly lower in riparian forest (18-4 ind/ km?) compared to interior dryland forest (22-3 ind/km?). It was found to be sympatric with two other langurs, the White-fronted Langur (PF. frontata ) and the Maroon Langur ( P. rubicunda ), which were, however, scarce compared with Miller’s Langurs.
Food and Feeding. Miller's Langurs eat mainly young leaves and leaf shoots (66%), along with unripe fruits (28%); also seeds, flowers, bird eggs, and nestlings. Individuals churn up and eat mud around mineral springs, resulting in the formation of stomach concretions known as “bezoars,” which are sought after for their supposed medicinal properties.
Breeding. Infant Miller’s Langurs are white, with a black cruciform pattern across their backs and shoulders.
Activity patterns. Miller's Langur is diurnal and arboreal. The majority of its time is spent in the middle and upper forest canopies above heights of 20 m (62%), and 29% of its time is spent in the lower canopy, 10-20 m above the ground.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Social groups of Miller’s Langurs have a single male, 2-4 females, and their young. Mean group size is eight individuals.
Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List (as P. hosei canicrus ). Miller’s Langur is legally protected in Indonesia, under the name P. aygula canicrus . The geographical boundaries ofits distribution are unknown. The formerly large population in Kutai National Park is considerably reduced due to widespread and repeated forest fires during El Nino years in the 1980s and 1990s. A previously unknown population was discovered in Wehea Forest, further inland, in the 2000s. In this forest, camera-trap records at one salt lick were only 0-2 Miller’s Langurs/day, similar to Bornean Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus), and 50% that of Maroon Langurs. At a different salt lick, there were 0-7 Miller’s Langurs/day, and they were often the most recorded primate. This forest, fortunately, is protected by provincial and local (customary) law. There are no Miller’s Langurs in captivity.
Bibliography. Brandon-Jones (1996), Goodman (1989), Groves (2001), Lhota et al. (2012), Mitchell (2011), Nijman (2004c, 2011b), Nijman, Meijaard & Hon (2008), Rodman (1978).
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