Phayre's Leaf Monkey Latest News
Recently, it was found that rapid habitat destruction forces arboreal Phayre’s leaf monkey to alter its habits.
About Phayre's Leaf Monkey
- Phayre's leaf monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei) is a species of Old World monkey which is diurnal and arboreal.
- Other names: The primate is known as chasma bandor (in Bengali) and chasma-chakuwa bandar (in Assamese).
- Appearance: It has a white coloration around the ventral, mouth, and eye area. The broad ring-shaped patches around the eyes resemble spectacles.
- Habitat: It inhabits tropical, deciduous, and evergreen forests and can also be seen in bamboo clusters and rubber plantations.
- Distribution: It is found in North-East India (mainly found in Tripura, Assam and Mizoram), Eastern Bangladesh, and Western Myanmar.
- Diet: It feeds primarily on young leaves, shoots, and flowers, occasionally consuming fruits and seeds.
- Behavior: Phayre's leaf monkeys are very shy and typically flee when threatened. They spend over 75% of their time feeding within tree tops.
- Its specialised multi-chambered stomach enables it to digest fibrous leaves efficiently, contributing to nutrient cycling and seed dispersal in the ecosystem.
- Threats:Â habitat loss, forest fragmentation and hunting
Conservation Status of Phayre's Leaf Monkey
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
- CITES: Appendix II
Source: DTE
Phayre's Leaf Monkey FAQs
Q1: What is the conservation status of Phayre's Leaf Monkey?
Ans: Endangered
Q2: Where is Phayre's Leaf Monkey primarily found?
Ans: Northeastern India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar
