Preliminary report on Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana roxellana) at Laohegou Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China

Abstract

Comparative studies of subspecies under different ecological environments offer insights into intraspecies evolutionary adaptive mechanisms. Golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) include three subspecies in China classified mainly by their morphological variations: R. r. roxellana (Sichuan and Gansu province), R. r. qinlingensis (Shaanxi province) and R. r. hubeiensis (Hubei province). These three subspecies live in three isolated area with different environments. Past works focused on the last two subspecies, but little information of habitat and behaviors of the nominated subspecies (R. r. roxellana) is available to date. We conducted a two-year study on the diet, activity budget, home range and social organization of 4 herds of R. r. roxellana, based on a total of 106 days’ observation in Laohegou (LHG) Nature Reserve, Sichuan province. By using scan sampling method, our results suggest that the R. r roxellana feeds predominantly on leaves (77.5%), and spends more time feeding (40.0%) and resting (27.0%) while compared to the other two subspecies. Kernel Density Estimation Method based on GPS technology confirms that R. r roxellana has relatively larger home ranges (49.1 km2). The unit size (8.3 ± 3.5 individuals) of R. r roxellana is also smaller. Therefore, it is possible that differences in food availability in relation to habitats have important impacts on the feeding strategy and social system of the golden snub-nosed monkey. These results provide data to further explore intraspecific adaptations of living primates.

Socioecological factors influencing intraspecific variation in ranging dynamics of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in Ndoki Forest

“…Emerging evidence from several taxa highlights the variable and flexible potential of ranging strategies in response to differing socioecological contexts within species and populations. For instance, ranging strategies within species can vary depending on resource availability (Rhinopithecus roxellana roxellana- Fang et al, 2018;Colobus guereza-Harris & Chapman, 2007; Tamiasciurus fremonti grahamensis- Mazzamuto et al, 2020) and spatiotemporal scale (Alces alces-van Beest et al, 2011; Syncerus caffer nanus- Korte, 2008).…”

A high-quality genome assembly for the endangered golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

“…The snub-nosed monkeys (genus Rhinopithecus ) consist of 5 endangered species narrowly restricted to China and Vietnam [1]. Of those, the golden snub-nosed monkey ( Rhinopithecus roxellana , NCBI:txid61622), also known as the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey, has the northernmost distribution of all Asian colobine species; this monkey is found only in 3 isolated regions in central and northwest China (the Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, and Hubei Provinces) [2, 3]. The golden snub-nosed monkey is characterized by several distinctive traits, including golden fur, a blue facial color, an odd-shaped nose, and folivory (Fig.…”

“…Based on morphological variations and discontinuous distributions, R. roxellana is distinguished into 3 subspecies: R. roxellana roxellana from the Minshan Mountain in the Sichuan and Gansu Provinces, R. roxellana qinlingensis from the Qinling Mountain in Shaanxi Province, and R. roxellana hubeiensis from Shennongjia Mountain in Hubei Province [3]. Recent studies of R. roxellana have focused on behavioral dynamics, population history, and social systems [5–7].…”

Blood Transcriptome Analysis reveals Age-associated changes in Expression Profile of Immune-Related Gene in Golden snub-nosed Monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellana)

“…Golden snub-nosed monkey were widely distributed in the central and southern China, including high altitude areas [3,4]. However, due to habitat changes and human activities, their population had extinct in many areas.…”