Semnopithecus ajax (Pocock, 1928)

Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands & Don E. Wilson, 2013, Cercopithecidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 3 Primates, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 550-755 : 734

133.

Chamba Sacred Langur

Semnopithecus ajax

French: Langur du Chamba / German: Kashmir-Hulman / Spanish: Langur de Cachemira

Other common names: Dark-eyed/\Western Himalayan Langur, Himalayan/Kashmir Gray Langur, Kangra Langur, Kashmir Sacred Langur

Taxonomy. Pithecus entellus ajax Pocock, 1928 ,

India, Chamba, Deolah, 1800 m above sea level.

S. ajax was listed by W. C. O. Hill in his 1939 review of Asian langurs as a subspecies of S. schistaceus . C. P. Groves in his 2001 Primate Taxonomy considered ajax sufficiently distinct as to warrant the status of species. Genetic analyses may yet indicate a revision of this arrangement. M. L. Roonwal separated gray langurs of South Asia into a northern group and a southern group based on tail carriage. S. ajax is of the northern group (Type IA), with the tail held looping forward and dangling down, even hanging down on one side of the body. Monotypic.

Distribution. NW India, confined to the Chamba Valley of Himachal Pradesh State; it may also occur in the Kishtwar Valley ofJammu and Kashmir State.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 50.8-78.7 cm,tail 72:4-96.5 cm; weight 19.5-20.8 kg (males). The Chamba Sacred Langur has yellowish upper sides and yellow-tinged under sides that characterize its loose shaggy coat. Head is white and is less differentiated from rest of body, as in other congeners. Tail tip is white. Arms are dark below elbows, and patches of dark skin are evident on hands. Legs and body are similarly colored, and feet are a little darker. Face and ears are black, and eyebrows are long and bristle like. Crown is neatly parted along the midline.

Habitat. Himalayan moist temperate, semi-evergreen, and subalpine cedar forest and alpine scrub at elevations of 2200-4000 m. Chamba Sacred Langurs can also be seen near villages.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Chamba Sacred Languris presumably similar in its diet and feeding habits to the other Himalayan species such the Nepal Sacred Langur (S. schistaceus ) and the Terai Sacred Langur (S. hector ).

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. The Chamba Sacred Langur is diurnal and mainly terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Chamba Sacred Languris listed on Schedule II, Part I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, amended up to 2002. Occurring in a single restricted locality, it 1s also recognized under the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), as an AZE Species, attracting specific and urgent measures forits conservation. Population estimates indicate only 250 mature adults and less than 500 individuals confined to the narrow Chamba Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Some of the imminent threats confronting the Chamba Sacred Langur include habitat loss, retaliatory killing due to crop raiding, persecution, hunting, logging, expansion of commercial horticulture, and change in land use and other development activities.

Bibliography. Brandon-Jones (2004), Groves (2001), Hill (1939), Karanth (2010), Kirkpatrick (2011), Minhas et al. (2010), Molur, Brandon-Jones et al. (2003), Molur, Sing & Kumar (2008a), Napier & Napier (1967), Oppenheimer (1977), Pocock (1928), Roonwal (1984, 1986), Roonwal et al. (1984).

Figures

132. Bengal Sacred Langur (Semnopithecus entellus), 133. Chamba Sacred Langur (Semnopithecus ajax), 134. Terai Sacred Langur (Semnopithecus hector), 135. Nepal Sacred Langur (Semnopithecus schistaceus), 136. Malabar Sacred Langur (Semnopithecus hypoleucos), 137. Tufted Gray Langur (Semnopithecus priam), 139. Nilgiri Langur (Semnopithecus john)

Distribution. NW India, confined to the Chamba Valley of Himachal Pradesh State; it may also occur in the Kishtwar Valley ofJammu and Kashmir State.