Red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus), Son Tra, Vietnam.
Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The red-shanked douc is one of the most colourful primates, a leaf-eating monkey with maroon 'stockings' and a golden face. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It lives high in the forest canopy and rarely comes to the ground.
Range & habitat
Forests of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Hunting
- Habitat loss
- Capture for trade
Why it matters
A spectacularly coloured leaf-eater of Indochina, the red-shanked douc is a flagship for Southeast Asian forest conservation.
Sources
Sources for Red-shanked Douc
- IUCN Red List — look up Red-shanked Douc (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the red-shanked douc so colourful?
Adults have maroon-red lower legs, white forearms, a golden-orange face, and grey body — among the most vividly patterned of all monkeys, earning doucs the nickname 'costumed apes'.
Why is the red-shanked douc Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite hunting, habitat loss, and capture for trade across Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: