Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
Fig 4
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Order : PRIMATES
Family : Cercopithecidae
Species : Trachypithecus auratus
Head-body length : 44-65 cm
Tail length : up to at least 90 cm
Weight : up to 7 kg
The Javan Lutung, or Ebony
Leaf Monkey, is a relatively uncommon species of langur whose population, in
recent years, has been classified as by
IUCN
as 'vulnerable' to 'endangered'.
Its numbers are declining steadily due to habitat loss, hunting and illegal
capture for the pet trade.
The word Lutung is an Indonesian word applied to leaf monkeys in
general.
In the lowlands of Java it still survives in a range of habitats including
mangrove, freshwater swamp forest and remnant tall, lowland forest. In the
hills and mountains it survives up to 3500 metres above sea level in tall,
primary forest which is now largely confined to the slopes of volcanoes and
upland plateaus. It is also reported from teak and acacia plantations, which
implies that the species may be reasonably adaptable. However, its range is
considered highly fragmented.
The fur of adults is a deep, glossy black with sometimes a slight brownish
tinge. The face and feet and dark grey to black. Juveniles are bright
orange, and in some parts of Java there is a rare form in which the fur is
orange into adulthood.
This leaf monkey feeds mainly on fresh, young leaves, as well as flowers and
fruits.
Two subspecies are sometimes described, but there appears to be little
genetic support for this assertion.
The Javan Lutung occurs on the islands of Java, Bali and nearby,
smaller islands. A small population also occurs on the island of Lombok, to
the east of Bali. Lombok lies on the easterly side of the Wallace Line,
across which primates are unlikely to have naturally migrated. Thus, the
Lombok population may have become established from individuals
introduced by man in historical times.
Fig 1 : Young adult with typical jet
black fur, in secondary forest.
Fig 2 : Adult with juvenile hiding amongst dense vegetation in the
mid-canopy of secondary forest.
Figs 3 and 4 : Young adult seen feeding amongst secondary vegetation.
All images from the slopes of Mount Rinjani on Lombok Island, Indonesia.
References :
IUCN
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