FaunaHub

Douc (Pygathrix nemaeus)

MammalPrimateSoutheast Asia

Red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus), a colourful monkey with red lower legs, Vietnam.

Red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus), Son Tra, Vietnam.

Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Doucs (genus Pygathrix) are strikingly colourful leaf-eating monkeys of the forests of Southeast Asia, often described as among the most beautiful of all primates. The red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus), shown here, looks almost as if it is wearing a costume: grey body, white forearms, a golden face, and brilliant maroon-red “stockings” on the lower legs. They belong to the colobine (leaf-monkey) group, related to langurs.

For all their beauty, doucs are little known and increasingly rare, and they are an emblem of the threatened forests of Indochina.

Conservation note: doucs are threatened — the red-shanked douc is Endangered (and other doucs Critically Endangered) due to habitat loss and hunting. Verify each species' status at iucnredlist.org.

Habitat & Range

Doucs live in the tropical forests of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, in evergreen and semi-evergreen forest from lowlands into the hills. They are highly arboreal, spending almost all their time in the trees, and depend on relatively intact, connected forest canopy for feeding and travel.

Diet

Doucs are folivores, eating mainly leaves — especially young, tender ones — along with unripe fruit, seeds, flowers, and buds. Like other colobines they have a large, chambered stomach with fermenting microbes to break down fibrous foliage. They are gentle, slow feeders and often share food peacefully within the group.

Behavior

Doucs are social, living in groups that move through the canopy by walking and impressive leaping. They are generally quiet and unaggressive, spending much of the day resting and digesting their leafy diet. Their bright coloration may help group members recognise one another in dense forest. Sadly, their habit of freezing in the trees when alarmed — effective against natural predators — makes them easy targets for hunters with guns.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Doucs are flagship animals for Indochinese forest conservation, but they face serious threats from deforestation (including for agriculture and logging) and from hunting for food, traditional medicine, and the pet trade. Their small ranges and specialised needs make them especially vulnerable. Consult the IUCN Red List for species-specific status.

More photos of the douc

A male red-shanked douc showing its grey body, white forearms, and red shins.

Red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus), male.

Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Douc

Why is the douc so colourful?
The red-shanked douc's vivid mix of grey, white, gold, and maroon-red has earned it the nickname 'costumed ape.' The exact function isn't fully understood, but such bold, distinctive coloration may help doucs recognise members of their own species and group in dense forest. It also makes them one of the most beautiful primates.
What do doucs eat?
Doucs are leaf-eaters (folivores), favouring young leaves, plus unripe fruit, seeds, flowers, and buds. They have a large, chambered, fermenting stomach — like langurs and other colobines — that lets them digest tough, fibrous foliage.
Where do doucs live?
Doucs live in the forests of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, spending almost all their time high in the trees. They need relatively intact, connected forest, which is part of why they are so vulnerable as those forests are cleared.
Are doucs endangered?
Yes. The red-shanked douc is Endangered, and its close relatives (the grey-shanked and black-shanked doucs) are even more threatened, some Critically Endangered. Habitat loss and hunting are the main causes, made worse by the doucs' habit of freezing in place when alarmed. Status should be checked against the IUCN Red List.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.