doucs

Doucs, or douc langurs, are a small group of Old World monkeys in the genus Pygathrix, within the family Cercopithecidae and subfamily Colobinae. The commonly recognized species are the spectacled douc (Pygathrix conspicillata), the red-shanked douc (P. nemaeus), and the grey-shanked douc (P. cinerea). Some classifications have treated the grey-shanked as a subspecies of the red-shanked; current evidence generally recognizes three distinct species.

They inhabit the forests of the Annamite Mountains in Vietnam and Laos, with some populations extending into Cambodia. Doucs are highly arboreal and spend most of their lives in the forest canopy, moving slowly through branches and rarely descending to the ground. Their habitat is primarily evergreen and mixed deciduous forest, often at higher elevations.

Doucs are medium-sized primates with striking coloration. Spectacled douc has a pale face with dark eye rings and a dark body, while red-shanked and grey-shanked doucs have dark bodies with lighter faces and differently colored legs (red or grey). All species have long tails and dense fur, contributing to their distinctive appearance.

Behavior and diet: they live in small to medium-sized social groups and are diurnal, foraging for leaves as their staple diet, supplemented by fruits, flowers, and seeds. They have complex stomachs adapted to folivory and spend much time resting or moving through the canopy.

Conservation: doucs face threats from habitat loss due to deforestation, fragmentation, and hunting for bushmeat and the pet trade. All three species are protected in many areas and are the focus of regional conservation programs and captive breeding in zoos and sanctuaries. Habitat protection and anti-poaching efforts are central to their continued survival.