Presbytis comata (Desmarest, 1822)
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https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6867065 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6863378 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/CE199B17-FF96-FF93-FF38-6710F9DCFC73 |
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Jonas |
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Presbytis comata |
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105. View Plate 47: Cercopithecidae
Javan Langur
French: Langur de la Sonde / German: Java-Langur / Spanish: Langur de Java
Other common names: Grizzled Langur, Grizzled/Java Leaf Monkey, Javan Surili; Javan Fuscous Langur (fredericae), Javan Grizzled Langur (comata)
Taxonomy. Semnopithecus comatus Desmarest, 1822 ,
Indonesia, western Java.
Genetically, both subspecies of P. comata are clearly distinct, but it has been shown that a chain of intermediate populations exists between them. D. Brandon-Jones has argued that fredericae warrants specific status. Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
P.c.comataDesmarest,1822—WJava,fromUjungKulnotoMtLawu;Elimitisunknown.
P. c. fredericae Sody, 1930 — C Java, around the slopes of the volcanoes Gunung Slamet, Gunung Cupu, and Diyeng; the extent of its distribution to the W is not known. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 48-60 cm (males) and 43-57 cm (females), tail 59-72 cm (males) and 56-72 cm (females); weight 6.7-8 kg (males) and 6-4 kg (females). The Javan Langur is dark gray or black above, with at least some white below. There is a single whorl of hair on front of crown, in addition to a short brow fringe, and the tall, miter-like crest behind is black, without stripes. The “Javan Grizzled Langur” (P. ¢. comata ) is slaty-gray above and darker on limbs, crown, and dorsal side oftail. Underside, inner surfaces of arms and legs, and ventral surface of tail are whitish. Crown crest is black. Pelage on body is longer than on limbs or tail. The “Javan Fuscous Langur” (P. c. fredericae) is a melanistic form, black above and below, except for lower abdomen and inner surfaces of limbs, which are white, and throat and upper chest, which are light gray or whitish, the two zones being joined by a thin whitish streak. There is a small amount of white on digits.
Habitat. Primary and secondary rainforest, from lowlands to ¢.2500 m, plantations, and orchards. The Javan Langur prefers the middle and upper layers of the forest canopy. It was historically found from sea level to 2565 m, but is now largely restricted to fragments of montane and upper montane forest. In Pegunungan Dieng,itis found in primary and secondary forests, at edges and in the interior, and in lowland forests,forests on steep slopes and hills, and upper montane forest. Rainfall in the interior ofJava can be very high; annual rainfall in the area of Mount Slamet is 5000-6714 mm/year.
Food and Feeding. The diet of the Javan Langur consists mainly of young leaves, along with fruits, flowers, seeds, and fungi. Individuals supplement their diets with large tree snails, and also eat reddish soil. A study in Gede-Pangrango National Park recorded a diet of 63% young leaves, 17% flowers, 6% mature leaves, 6% fruits, and 2% seeds (4% unidentified). The study by Y. Ruhiyat recorded a similar diet: 59% young leaves, 135% fruits, and the remainder flowers, mature leaves, fungi, pseudo-bulbs, branch tips, and seeds. Preferred leaves include those of Ficus pubinervis ( Moraceae ), Passiflora ligularis ( Passifloraceae ), Elaeagnus triflora (Elacagnaceae), Schefflera aromatica ( Araliaceae ), Jasminum azoricum ( Oleaceae ), Hoya (Apocynaceae) , and Aeschynanthus (Gesneriaceae) . Preferred fruits include those of Premna parasitica (Lamniaceae), Saurauwia (Actinidiaeceae), and Castanopsis argentea (Fagaceae) . Langurs in general are reported to avoid sweet succulent fruits such as figs, which can acidify the neutral pH of the forestomach and thus destroy beneficial gut microflora essential to leaf digestion.
Breeding. There is no set breeding season of the Javan Langur. The female gives birth to a single young after a relatively short gestation period. Infants are carried ventrally until they are c.1 year old. They are passed among the females in a group (allomothering) and are independent at c.1-5 years old. Unlike other species of Presbytis , the natal coat of the Javan Langur is medium to dark gray or black.
Activity patterns. Javan Langurs are arboreal and diurnal. In Gede-Pangrango National Park, their activity budget was 51% resting, 23% foraging and feeding, 21% traveling, and 5% engaging in social and other activities. They have three to four feeding bouts during the day. They travel and feed in the upper canopy and sleep in high trees, generally on ridges.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Javan Langur lives in small groups, generally with a single adult male but sometimes with two. Surveys around Mount Slamet recorded groups of 2-14 individuals. They are quite territorial and encounters between groups are antagonistic. The adult male is dominant, and grooming is largely a female activity. Males disperse from their group before puberty. Sometimes they form mixed-species groups with the East Javan Langur (7 Trachypithecus auratus ). Surveys of the Javan Fuscous Langur around Mount Slamet in central Java in 2006 and 2008 estimated 5-6 ind/km? on southern slopes to 8 ind/km?® on the eastern slopes.
Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List, including both subspecies (under P. comata ). The Javan Langur is severely threatened by habitat loss and, to a lesser extent, hunting. In 2006, the total population was estimated at 2300-2500 individuals in ¢.30 isolated populations. No subpopulation contains more than 250 mature individuals. The Javan Grizzled Langur is threatened by habitat destruction, such that its remaining populations are now mainly confined to montane forest patches, whereas it once occurred across extensive lowland areas. Hunting is a persistent threat, especially in the area of Mount Slamet. Forests are gradually degraded through illegal logging, occasionalfelling for building materials, cutting trees to obtain orchids and pitcher plants, and the collection of firewood. Javan Langurs are also persecuted for crop raiding. They occur in at least five protected areas: Gede-Pangrango National Park, Gunung Halimun National Park, Gunung Tukung Gede Nature Reserve, Ujung Kulon National Park (Javan Grizzled Langur), and Gunung Slamet Nature Reserve (Javan Fuscous Langur).
Bibliography. Brandon-Jones (1995a, 1995b), Groves (2001), Melisch & Dirgayusa (1996), Meyer et al. (2011), Nijman (1997a, 1997b, 2001, 2011a), Nijman & van Balen (1998), Nijman & Richardson (2008), Nijman & Sozer (1995), Ruhiyat (1983), Seitre & Seitre (1990), Setiawan et al. (2010), Sody (1937a, 1937b), Sujatnika (1992), Weitzel & Groves (1985).
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