FaunaHub

Langur (Semnopithecus entellus)

MammalPrimateAsia

Gray langur (Semnopithecus), a slender grey monkey with a black face and long tail.

Gray langur (Semnopithecus), India.

Image: Yann (talk), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Langurs are slender, long-tailed Asian monkeys of the leaf-eating subfamily Colobinae. The gray langurs of the Indian subcontinent (genus Semnopithecus), shown here, are the most familiar — pale-bodied monkeys with black faces and very long tails, often seen around temples, towns, and forests. In India they are widely regarded as sacred and associated with the Hindu deity Hanuman, which has long given them a degree of protection.

Like other colobines, langurs are specialised leaf-eaters with a complex stomach, and they are agile, highly social, and largely arboreal.

Note: “langur” covers many species across South and Southeast Asia; details here use the gray langur as a reference. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Langurs occupy a huge range of habitats across South and Southeast Asia, from tropical rainforest and mountain forest to dry scrub, farmland, and the edges of towns and temples. Gray langurs are especially adaptable and are found from sea level to high in the Himalayas, often living close to people.

Diet

Langurs are mainly folivores, eating leaves (both mature and young), along with fruit, flowers, buds, and seeds. Their large, chambered stomach uses microbial fermentation to break down tough, fibrous foliage — and even to handle some toxins in leaves that other animals avoid — which lets them exploit a food source many monkeys cannot.

Behavior

Langurs are social, living in groups that range from one-male harems to larger multi-male troops depending on species and place. They are agile leapers and climbers with long limbs and tails. Gray langurs are known to forage on the ground as well as in trees, and they sometimes form mixed associations with deer, which benefit from the langurs' alarm calls and the food they drop. Like many monkeys, langurs have complex social lives, including grooming and, in some cases, intense competition between males.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Gray langurs live closely alongside people in much of India and are often tolerated or revered for their religious associations, though crop-raiding and urban conflict can cause friction. Many langur species are common, but a number of forest-dwelling langurs are threatened by habitat loss and hunting. Consult authoritative sources for species-specific status.

More photos of the langur

A Hanuman gray langur sitting, showing its long limbs and tail.

Hanuman / gray langur (Semnopithecus).

Image: Subhrajyoti07, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Langur

What is a langur?
Langurs are Asian leaf-eating monkeys in the subfamily Colobinae. They are typically slender, long-tailed, and largely tree-dwelling, with specialised stomachs for digesting leaves. The term covers many species; the gray langurs of India, associated with the deity Hanuman, are the best known.
How do langurs digest tough leaves?
Like cattle and other colobine monkeys, langurs have a large, chambered stomach where microbes ferment the leaves they eat. This lets them break down fibrous foliage — and even neutralise some plant toxins — extracting nutrients from a food source that would be hard for most monkeys to use.
Why are gray langurs considered sacred in India?
Gray langurs are associated with the Hindu deity Hanuman, the monkey god, and are therefore widely revered and often protected in India. This cultural status has helped them thrive around temples and towns, where people frequently tolerate or even feed them.
Are langurs endangered?
It depends on the species. Gray langurs are adaptable and remain common, but several forest-specialist langurs across Asia are threatened by deforestation and hunting. Status varies widely, so it should be checked against current IUCN Red List assessments for each species.

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.