Cyber Flashcards

10 primate species yOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF

#2

what is thIS PRIMATE'S common name?
WESTERN PURPLE-FACED LANGUR
also known as the north lowland wetzone purple-faced langur
What is the scientific name?
Semnopithecus vetulus nestor
​WHAT KIND OF PRIMATE IS THIS?
MONKEY
Where do they live?
Western purple-faced langurs are endemic to the tropical rainforests in southwest Sri Lanka around Colombo, the country’s largest city. This region of Sri Lanka is called the wet zone because it receives up to twice as much annual rainfall as the rest of the island (98 in or 250 cm).
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Asia
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Where purple-faced langurs live. Map: IUCN
New world or old world?
OLD WORLD
fascinating facts
  • 90% of their rainforest is gone, forcing them to live alongside human communities in gardens and on rooftops
  • Because of their forced relocation, their leaf-based diet is being replace by cultivated fruit from these gardens
  • The consequences of this diet change are not yet known, but there is cause for concern since they, like all langurs, are physiologically adapted to digest a diet of leaves
  • One of the world's 25 most endangered primate species
What threatens their future?
Sri Lanka emerged from its 26-year civil war with one of the faster growing economies in the world, and that growth has triggered mass deforestation to make room for new developments. 
Forest fragmentation can cause a plethora of issues for any species. Arboreal animals like the western purple-faced langur are unwilling to cross roads and large patches of bare ground. Thus, when a forest is physically cut off from other habitats, it becomes like an island to some of the inhabitants. This lack of gene flow leads to lower diversity, which makes the species as a whole more vulnerable to disease outbreaks and other threats. For many species, it is better to live in one large forest than several small ones.
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In addition, increasing clashes between humans and monkeys have caused these langurs to be labelled as pests who raid kitchens and damage rooves. Langurs can also be electrocuted from powerlines and attacked by dogs.
​WHAT IS their CONSERVATION STATUS?
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
What Does this Conservation Status mean?
Critically Endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Any species categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable is considered by conservation scientists to be a threatened species
​HERE'S A SNAPSHOT AND THE SPECIES' PROFILE
Click or tap on the graphic to enlarge it
​LEARN MORE ABOUT WESTERN PURPLE-FACED LANGURS
Go to the western purple-faced langur Primate Species Profiles page
are western purple-faced langurs good pets?
NO
  1. Western purple-faced langurs are wild animals. Their diet and environmental needs cannot be adequately met or replicated in human living conditions. 
  2. To become pets, baby primates are stolen from their mothers. As a result, they do not develop normally emotionally.
  3. When taken from the wild, their mothers are killed to capture the baby.
  4. Primates are never domesticated. They always remain wild. 
  5. Caged primates are very unhappy and frustrated. They are likely to resist confinement. They are quick and cause damaging bites and scratches. Some die as a result of their captivity.
  6. Many locations have strict regulations that prohibit trading in or keeping primates and endangered species are pets.
  7. Western purple-faced langurs belong with other langurs in the forests of Sri Lanka. They and their habitats must be protected, not exploited.
#PrimatesAreNotPets
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​Common names are not officially defined. They are based on everyday conversational language and may differ by country, region, profession, community, or other factors. As a result, it is not unusual for a species to have multiple common names.

Scientific names, on the other hand, are standardized and constant. They are Latinized and rule-bound by a formal naming system called binominal nomenclature. Scientific names prevent misidentification. They typically only change if a species is officially redesignated.
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The biological order of Primates is divided into these classifications:​
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​​New World monkeys are native to Central and South America.

Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia.
Learn about the differences between New World monkeys and Old World monkeys
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  • ​Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining.
  • Extinct in the Wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity.
  • Critically Endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
  • Near Threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
  • Least Concern (LC) – Widespread and abundant.
  • Data Deficient (DD) – Not enough data to assess the species' risk of extinction.
  • Not Evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated.
Learn more about ​Conservation Statuses
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