Open AccessComparison of locomotor behaviour between white-headed langurs Trachypithecus leucocephalus and François’ langurs T .françoisi in Fusui, China
Author(s) -
Jianli Xiong,
Shihua Gong,
Chenggang Qiu,
Zhaoyuan Li
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
current zoology/environmental epigenetics/current zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.971
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 2058-5888
pISSN - 1674-5507
DOI - 10.1093/czoolo/55.1.9
Subject(s) - arboreal locomotion , quadrupedalism , biology , white (mutation) , zoology , ecology , habitat , anatomy , biochemistry , gene
We studied the locomotor behaviour of white-headed langurs Trachypithecus leucocephalus and François’ langurs T .françoisi to test two hypotheses: (1) these monkeys have evolved locomotor ability to support their activities on limestone hills, and (2) François’ langurs have evolved more diverse locomotor skills than white-headed langurs. Data were collected from 1996 - 1998 and in 2005 in Fusui Nature Reserve, Guangxi, and showed that the two species had similar locomotor types, but François’ langurs had more locomotor modes (26) than white-headed langurs (12). Quadrupedal walking and leaping were two major types, and white-headed langurs were more arboreal than François’ langurs. We suggest that, while keeping their ancestral locomotor types, the two species have evolved new types allowing them to live on limestone cliffs. Compared to white-headed langurs, François’ langurs have more diverse locomotor modes that probably have allowed them to live in more habitat types. As an evolutionary outcome’ François’ langurs have a larger distribution range.