Gray Langur

The Gray Langur (Semnopithecus priam), also called the Tufted Gray Langur, is the tall, silver-grey monkey of the dry zone of Sri Lanka. With its black face and very long tail, it is a graceful sight on the walls of ancient cities and in the trees of the national parks. The species is not endemic: it also lives in south-eastern India. The population in Sri Lanka belongs to its own subspecies, S. p. thersites.

How do you identify a Gray Langur?

The Gray Langur is much larger and slimmer than the Toque Macaque, with long limbs and a tail that is longer than its body. Males are larger than females.

• Size: 55 to 80 cm from head to rump, with a tail of 75 to 90 cm. Adults weigh about 11 to 20 kg.
• Coat: silver-grey to pale buff above, and paler below.
• Face: black and bare, with eyebrows that project outwards and a short, whitish beard and sideburns.
• Crest: the hairs on the crown meet at a central point to form a small pointed tuft, which gives the species its other name.

The Purple-faced Langur is the only similar monkey on the island. It is smaller and much darker, with a brown body and a pale fringe of whiskers around its dark face.

What does the Gray Langur eat?

Gray Langurs are leaf eaters. Leaves make up most of their diet, along with fruit and seeds. Near water they feed on lotus seeds, and when other food is short they also take insects and evergreen leaves, turning to bark only when little else is available. They forage both in the trees and on the ground, and they often share their feeding areas with troops of Toque Macaques.

How do Gray Langurs live?

Gray Langurs usually live in troops of about 20 to 50 animals. Large troops are led by a male and female pair, and small troops by a single dominant male. Most langurs stay within their home territory throughout their lives, so a troop can often be found in the same area year after year.

Where can you see Gray Langurs in Sri Lanka?

This is a monkey of the dry zone, where it is common in forests and near people. It is largely absent from the wet south-west and the high hills.

• Polonnaruwa: troops rest and feed among the ruins, close to the macaques of the Monkey Kingdom.
• Sigiriya Rock Fortress: langurs are often seen in the gardens and the forest around the rock.
• Yala, Wilpattu and Minneriya national parks: a regular sight on safari, especially near water.
• Anuradhapura and Dambulla: common around the ancient sites and temples.

To plan a dedicated trip, see our guides to monkey watching and primate watching in Sri Lanka.

Is the Gray Langur endangered?

No, but it is in decline. The IUCN Red List classes the species as Near Threatened because its numbers are falling, and it is listed on CITES Appendix I, which restricts international trade.

Tips for watching Gray Langurs

• Go early or late. Troops feed most actively in the cooler hours of the morning and late afternoon.
• Check near water. In the dry season, tanks and waterholes are good places to find them.
• Keep your distance. Langurs are less bold than macaques, but they are still wild animals. Stay a few metres away and never offer food.
• Bring a telephoto lens. It lets you fill the frame without crowding the troop.