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Two black François' langurs with white cheeks sitting on a branch.
Photo: Ltshears, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

François' Langur

Trachypithecus francoisi

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

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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

Sources

  1. [1] San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. “François' Langur.” https://www.sfzoo.org/francois-langur/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
  2. [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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