JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH Journal homepage: www.jakraya.com/journal/jwr REVIEW ARTICLE Semnopithecus ajax Pocock, 1928 a Critically Endangered Species Struggling for Space and Survival in Nature Vikram Singh and DR Thakur Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. Abstract Kashmir grey langur Semnopithecus ajax Pocock, 1928 is a newly *Corresponding Author: assigned but endangered species restricted in its range with an extent of Vikram Singh occurrence of less than 5,000 square kilometres. In India this is mostly present in an area of less than 500 square kilometres, in a valley surrounded Email: [email protected] by high peaks in Chamba and its occurrence is difficult to determine owing to taxonomic uncertainty. In this review paper we have tried to bring in Received: 14/08/2017 forefront the present status and potential threats endangering this species. Accepted: 07/09/2017 Keywords: Semnopithecus ajax , Habitat, Langur, Endangered species, Conservation. 1. Introduction (Madras grey langur) and S. e. thersites (Grey langur) India has long been known as one of the rich (Walker and Molur, 2004). However, in 2001, it was primate areas of the world, both in species diversity recommended that several distinctive former and population abundance. Fourteen species of subspecies should be given full species status and nonhuman primates occur in India-six species of accordingly seven species were recognized (Groves, macaques, five of langurs, two of loose, and one 2001, 2005) (Table 1). It is generally very difficult to species of gibbon (Southwick and Lindburg, 1986). In identify and differentiate the individual species from population abundance, Rhesus and Semnopithecus each other; mostly people consider all of these as S. (Hanuman langur) are considered as largest population entellus . of non human primates sharing this distinction with Himalayan Grey Langur is a species of langur baboon of Africa. formerly considered as a sub species of S. entellus . Genus Semnopithecus is widely studied and This is a newly assigned species of langur and its harbours a range of species belonging to various distribution is uncertain especially in India. Though it geographical and ecological regions. Semnopithecus has been reported from Himachal Pradesh, India (Great entellus is the representative species which range from Himalayan National Park, Kallatop-Khajjiar and Sri Lanka to the Himalayas in Indian subcontinent in Manali Wildlife sanctuaries) and State of Jammu habitats extending from semi desert and subtropical Kashmir (Kishtwar National Park), Nepal (Lang Tang forest to subalpine scrub (Bishop, 1977, 1979; National Park of Central Province) (Walker and Molur, Brandon-Jones et al., 2004; Koenig and Borries, 2001; 2004) and still there are chances of its confusion with Roonwal and Mohnot, 1977). common Hanuman langur. Earlier Semnopithecus was considered a Species name of the Himalayan Grey langur i.e. subgenus of Presbytis by Szalay and Delson (1979) but S. ajax is derived from the Greek whose reference is it was separated from Presbytis by Groves (1989). there in Trojan war where two character having name Previously, only Semnopithecus entellus was Ajax was there but as Pocock (1928) compared recognized as a species and remainder all being treated Pithecus entellus ajax with P. e. achilles and as subspecies. According to the Orlando C.A.M.P. presumably had in mind the bravest and handsome of workshop, ten sub species of grey langur were the Greeks after Achilles, Ajax, king of Salamis and identified, these were S. entellus achates (plains son of Telmon. Ajax well matched hector in many langur), S. e. ajax (dark-eyed himalayan langur), S. e. combats then ran amok and killed Achilles’ divine anchises (Deccan hanuman langur), S. e. entellus armour was awarded to Odysseus posthumously. In (Bengal hanuman langur), S. e. hector (Grey langur), S. opposition to the generic name, Ajax is a masculine e. hypoleucos (Dark-legged Malabar langur), S. e. nominative singular proper noun and therefore, it is schistaceus (Central Himalayan langur), S. e. declined to agree in gender with that of the genus. dussumieri (Dussumier's Malabar langur), S. e. priam Journal of Wildlife Research | July-September, 2017 | Volume 05 | Issue 03 | Pages 32-40 © 2017 Jakraya Singh and Thakur…Semnopithecus Ajax Pocock, 1928 a Critically Endangered Species Struggling for Space and Survival in Nature Table 1: All seven species of Semnopithecus Species Name Common name Semnopithecus schistaceus (Hodgson, 1840 ) Nepal grey langur Semnopithecus ajax (Pocock, 1928) Kashmir grey langur Semnopithecus hector (Pocock , 1928) Tarai grey langur Semnopithecus entellus (Dufresne, 1797) Northern plains grey langur Semnopithecus hypoleucos (Blyth, 1841) Black-footedgrey langur Semnopithecus dussumieri (I. Geoffroy, 1843) Southern plains grey langur Semnopithecus priam (Blyth, 1841) Tufted grey langur 2. Characteristics of Semnopithecus ajax Himalayan grey langur is reported from a varied Dark-eyed Himalayan grey langur habitat including quite dry savannah and tropical rain Semnopithecus ajax , can be distinguished from other forests. They inhabit between 2200 - 4000 m asl (above species of Semnopithecus found in the lower altitudinal sea level) in the subtropical, tropical moist temperate, areas, by its larger size and outer sides of both the fore alpine, coniferous, broad leaved forests and scrublands and hind limbs covered with silvery-dark coloured hair (Nowak, 1999; Hilton and Taylor, 2000; Roberts, suffused with brown back darkest on the hand and 1997). From Asian continent their distribution is forearm (Roberts, 1997; Wilson and Reeder, 1992). reported from Pakistan, India and Nepal. In India The long tail of this langur always forms a broad arc Himalayan lrey langur is found in Himachal Pradesh over their back curving towards the head when on the (Great Himalayan National Park, Kallatop-Khajjiar and ground (Jay, 1965). Himalayan grey langur belongs to Manali Wildlife sanctuaries) and State of Jammu the family Cercopithecidae and subfamily Colobinae, Kashmir in Dachigam National Part (Kishtwar National which includes all the old-world monkeys with Park). They are found in Lang Tang National Park of folivorous feeding habit (Roberts, 1997; Thorington Central Province in Nepal (Walker and Molur, 2004). and Anderson, 1984). In Pakistan, these langurs are confined to Pak occupied Kashmir and District Mansehra, Pallas Kohistan, 3. Taxonomy Bankad Dubair and Pattan (Roberts, 1997). In Pak Genus: Semnopithecus Desmarest, 1822 occupied Kashmir these beautiful monkeys are 1822. Semnopithecus Desmarest, Mammalogie, in distributed in Neelum Valley (Machiara National Park Encycl. Meth, 2 (Supp.): 532 and Salkhala Game Reserve), Jehlum Valley (Moji Semnopithecus ajax , Pocock, 1928 Game Reserve and surroundings), and Hillan and 1928. Semnopithecus ajax Pocock, J. Bombay Nat. Phalla game reserves in District Bagh (Ahmed, 1999; Hist. Soc., 32: 480. Baig, 2004; Dar, 2006). The unique characteristics of the Himalayan grey langur, S emnopithecus ajax , distinguishes the 5. Habitat Utilization species from its congeners, Semnopithecus hector and The langurs are generally ecologically adoptable Semnopithecus schistaceus . The lateral flowing silky to a varied habitat but S. ajax is having a limited range white upper coat, tinged with yellowish brown hair of occupancy in peculiar habitat. They are found in starkly contrasts the tightly wound dark greyish coat of moist and dry coniferous forests mixed with deciduous Semnopithecus schistaceus and of the pale coated, low trees and subalpine scrubs. Nowak (1999), Hilton and altitude Semnopithecus hector ¸ re-establishing Taylor (2000) and Roberts (1997) also reported that the Pocock’s (1928) description and attesting its endemism species inhabited between 2,200- 4,000 m asl in the as argued by Groves (2001). This understanding of the subtropical, tropical moist temperate, alpine, specific identity of Semnopithecus ajax opens venues coniferous, broad leaved forests, including scrublands. for more species specific research in the region and However, during the summer season they migrate paves way for species specific conservation. upwards into the subalpine scrub forests and in some Understanding the taxonomy is indispensable to localities even further into the alpine zone. In most of establishing distribution data, conservation threats and the habitats, they prefer moist temperate forests with human-primate relationship. dominant deciduous vegetations (Minhas et al., 2010). Zoogeographical distribution of be S. ajax appears to 4. Distribution be debatable. Further research is required to ascertain its particular localities. A systematic survey is required Journal of Wildlife Research | July-September, 2017 | Volume 05 | Issue 03 | Pages 32-40 © 2017 Jakraya 33 Singh and Thakur…Semnopithecus Ajax Pocock, 1928 a Critically Endangered Species Struggling for Space and Survival in Nature to map the range of this species along its present spatially across different habitats. In bisexual troops the known range as well as along the adjoining sectors in average home range is from 2.33 km2 to 5.47 km 2 (233- the north-western Himalayan region both in India and 547 hectares) whereas all male bands extensively Pakistan (CAMP, 2003). ranged between 4.0 km 2 and 6.0 km 2 area (400-600 hectares). 6. Population Density The langur population is distributed in uni-male Most of the informations about the population