François' Langur

Trachypithecus francoisi

A slender black leaf-eating monkey of southern China and northern Vietnam with white sideburns and bright orange babies.

🐒 Monkeys

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About the François' Langur

François' langurs live in moist forests and rocky areas from southeastern China to central Laos and northern Vietnam. They weigh about 13 pounds and have long, thin tails about 3 feet long. They are black except for white bands from the mouth to the ears. They eat mostly leaves, plus fruit and flowers, and rest a lot between meals while their food digests.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Trachypithecus francoisi^[1]
Size: Tail about 3 feet long.^[1]
Weight: About 13 pounds.^[1]
Diet: Mostly leaves, plus fruit, flowers and crops.^[1]
Habitat: Moist forests and sheltered rocky areas.^[1]
Where it lives: Southeastern China, central Laos and northern Vietnam.^[1]
Group life: Groups of about 12 (4 to 27): one adult male, several females and young.^[1]
Babies: Pregnancy lasts six to seven months. One bright orange baby.^[1]
Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN Red List, assessed 2015).^[2]

Fun facts

François' langur babies are born bright orange and turn black within a year.^[1]
A big brow ridge gives langurs a curious, raised-eyebrow look.^[1]
They're also called white-sideburned black leaf monkeys.^[1]

Vocabulary

langur: A slender, long-tailed leaf-eating monkey of Asia.
bacteria: Tiny living things; some help animals digest food.
arboreal: Living mostly in trees.
brow ridge: A bony bump above the eyes.
endangered: A conservation label meaning a species faces a very high risk of dying out in the wild.

See it in person

San Francisco Zoo & GardensSan Francisco, California · MammalsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. “François' Langur.” https://www.sfzoo.org/francois-langur/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Trachypithecus francoisi (François's Langur).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39853/17958817 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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