Himalayan Grey Langur

Context: According to new studies, differences in altitude make a primate species in the same Himalayan habitat choose between flowers and fruits as food options beyond their staple menu of leaves.

About Himalayan Grey Langur:

• The Himalayan Gray Langur or the Chamba Sacred Langur ( Semnopithecus ajax) is a colobine, meaning leaf-eating monkey.
• It is considered an endangered species globally.
• The Himalayan Gray Langur was once considered a sub-species of the Semnopithecus entellus, commonly known as the Bengal Sacred Langur or Hanuman Langur, but it was separated as a species in 2005.
• In India, most langurs comes under the genus Semnopithecus.
• Prior to 2001, Semnopithecus entellus (Hanuman Langur) was considered only one species, with several subspecies.
• It was in 2001 that these subspecies were recommended as separate species under the genus Semnopithecus.
• Accordingly, seven different species have been recognised which include Semnopithecus ajax.
• In the Indian Subcontinent, their distribution is reported from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and from Pakistan and Nepal.
• S ajax is an endangered species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List but after reassessment in 2004, it was re-designated as ‘Critically Endangered’.
• It is considered endangered due to its restricted range habitat.

Source:  The Hindu

Previous Year Question

Q.1) With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:

1. The leader of an elephant group is a female
2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months
3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only
4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2020)

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 4 only
3. 3 only
4. 1, 3 and 4 only