Ranging and foraging of Himalayan grey langurs (Semnopithecus ajax) in Machiara National Park, Pakistan

Minhas, Riaz Aziz; Ali, Usman; Awan, M. S.; Ahmed, Khawaja Basharat; Khan, M. Fahim; Dar, Naeem Iftikhar; Qamar, Qamar Zaman; Ali, Hassan; Grueter, Cyril C.; Tsuji, Yamato

doi:10.1007/s10329-013-0345-7

Cited by 14 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A recent study (Khanal et al, 2018) also showed that precipitation plays a major role in the distribution of S. schistaceus in Nepal. Langurs in the Himalaya inhabit broad leaves subtropical forest at lower altitudes and temperate broadleaf forest at higher altitudes (Bishop, 1979; Curtin, 1982; Minhas et al, 2013; Sayers & Norconk, 2008; Sugiyama, 1976). Occasionally, these langurs are found in temperate coniferous forests above 4000m altitude (Bishop, 1977).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrative taxonomy confirms the species status of the Himalayan langurs, Semnopithecus schistaceus Hodgson 1840

Arekar

Sathyakumar

Karanth³

2019

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

7Taxonomy is replete with groups where the species identity and classification remain 8 unresolved. One such group is the widely distributed Hanuman langur (Colobinae: 9 Semnopithecus). For most part of the last century, Hanuman langur was considered to be a 1 0 single species with multiple subspecies. Nevertheless, recent studies using an integrative 1 1 taxonomy approach suggested that this taxon is a complex, with at least three species. 2However, these studies did not include the Himalayan population of the Hanuman langur 1 3 whose taxonomic status remains unresolved. The Himalayan population of Hanuman langurs 1 4 have been classified as a distinct species with multiple subspecies or have been subsumed 1 5 into other species. These classification schemes are wholly based on morphological 1 6 characters and which are sometimes insufficient to delimit different species. Here, we have 1 7integrated data from multiple sources viz. morphology, DNA, and ecology to resolve the 1 8 taxonomy of the Himalayan langur and to understand its distribution limit. Our results with 1 9 three lines of evidence corresponding to three different species concepts show that Himalayan 2 0 langur is a distinct species from S. entellus of the plains. Additionally, these results did not 2 1 show any support for splitting of the Himalayan langur into multiple subspecies. Our study 2 2 supports the classification proposed by Hill (1939) and we recommend Semnopithecus 2 3 schitaceus, Hodgson 1840 as species name for the Himalayan langur and subsume all the 2 4 known subspecies into it. 2 5 2 6

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrative taxonomy confirms the species status of the Himalayan langurs, Semnopithecus schistaceus Hodgson 1840

Arekar

Sathyakumar

Karanth³

2019

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As noted, folivorous primates are generally expected to traverse shorter distances in a given day than frugivores, but this can be altered when their foods are sufficiently scattered in space. Himalayan gray langurs on average travel over 1000 m per day at the three sites where this variable has been measured: Junbesi, Nepal (Curtin 1975), Langtang National Park, Nepal (Sayers and Norconk 2008), and Machiara National Park, Pakistan (Minhas et al 2012). Similar to some lowland gray langur populations (Newton 1992; Koenig et al 1997), these are comparable to the day ranges of some highly frugivorous primates (Di Fiore and Campbell 2007), including those with similar group sizes (Pombo et al 2004), and may include a greater degree of three-dimensional, altitudinal movement.…”

Section: Socioecological Models and Assumptions Reconsideredmentioning

confidence: 99%

On folivory, competition, and intelligence: generalisms, overgeneralizations, and models of primate evolution

Sayers

2012

Primates

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Considerations of primate behavioral evolution often proceed by assuming the ecological and competitive milieus of particular taxa via their relative exploitation of gross food types, such as fruits versus leaves. Although this “fruit/leaf dichotomy” has been repeatedly criticized, it continues to be implicitly invoked in discussions of primate socioecology and female social relationships, and explicitly invoked in models of brain evolution. An expanding literature suggests that such views have severely limited our knowledge of the social and ecological complexities of primate folivory. This paper examines the behavior of primate folivore-frugivores, with particular emphasis on gray langurs (traditionally, Semnopithecus entellus) within the broader context of evolutionary ecology. Although possessing morphological characters that have been associated with folivory and constrained activity patterns, gray langurs are known for remarkable plasticity in ecology and behavior. Their diets are generally quite broad and can be discussed in relation to “Liem’s paradox,” the odd coupling of anatomical feeding specializations with a generalist foraging strategy. Gray langurs, not coincidentally, inhabit arguably the widest range of habitats for a nonhuman primate, including high elevations in the Himalayas. They provide an excellent focal point for examining the assumptions and predictions of behavioral, socioecological, and cognitive evolutionary models. Contrary to the classical descriptions of the primate folivore, Himalayan and other gray langurs—and, in actuality, many leaf eating primates—range widely and engage in resource competition (both of which have previously been noted for primate folivores) as well as solve ecological problems rivaling those of more frugivorous primates (which has rarely been argued for primate folivores). It is maintained that questions of primate folivore adaptation, temperate primate adaptation, and primate evolution more generally cannot be answered by the frequent approach of broad characterizations, categorization models, crude variables, weakly correlative evidence, and subjective definitions. As a corollary, many current avenues of study are inadequate for explaining primate adaptation. A true understanding of primate ecology can only be achieved through the utilization of mainstream evolutionary ecology, and thorough linkage of both proximate and ultimate mechanisms.

show abstract

“…For humans, this area is difficult to explore, so the biodiversity is likely very high; though for other reasons some threatened or endangered species inhabit this area. Threatened and endangered mammals living in this area includes the Rhesus macaque, the Himalayan brown bear, the Kashmir gray langur, the Indian wolf, the Indian leopard, the Snow leopard, the Markhor, the Kashmir red deer, the White-bellied musk deer and the Siberian ibex (Goldstein and Richard 1989;Woodford et al 2004;Bellemain et al 2007;Qamar et al 2008;Minhas et al 2010;Anwar et al 2011;Qureshi et al 2011;Kabir et al 2014;Raza et al 2015). In addition, birds such as the Western tragopan, the Peregrine falcon and the Cheer pheasant can be found (Raja et al 1999).…”

Section: Dear Editormentioning

confidence: 99%

China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): an alarming threat to the biodiversity of Northern Pakistan

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ranging and foraging of Himalayan grey langurs (Semnopithecus ajax) in Machiara National Park, Pakistan

Cited by 14 publications

References 24 publications

Integrative taxonomy confirms the species status of the Himalayan langurs, Semnopithecus schistaceus Hodgson 1840

Integrative taxonomy confirms the species status of the Himalayan langurs, Semnopithecus schistaceus Hodgson 1840

On folivory, competition, and intelligence: generalisms, overgeneralizations, and models of primate evolution

China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): an alarming threat to the biodiversity of Northern Pakistan

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About