The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

   ISSN 2307-8235 (online)

   IUCN 2008: T22034A9348260

Trachypithecus auratus, Javan Lutung

Assessment by: Nijman, V. & Supriatna, J.

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Citation: Nijman, V. & Supriatna, J. 2008. Trachypithecus auratus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2008: e.T22034A9348260.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T22034A9348260.en

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Taxonomy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Animalia Chordata Mammalia Primates Cercopithecidae

Taxon Name:  Trachypithecus auratus (É, Geoffroy, 1812)

Synonym(s):
• Trachypithecus kohlbruggei
• Trachypithecus maurus
• Trachypithecus pyrrhus
• Trachypithecus sondaicus
• Trachypithecus stresemanni

Infra-specific Taxa Assessed:

• Trachypithecus auratus ssp. auratus
• Trachypithecus auratus ssp. mauritius

Common Name(s):
• English: Javan Lutung, Ebony Leaf Monkey, Javan Langur
Taxonomic Notes:
There is disagreement over the validity and physical separation of the subspecies. Designations of
subspecies are not well defined, and a genetic study refutes the assignment of any (Rosenblum et al.
1997).

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable A2cd ver 3.1

Year Published: 2008

Date Assessed: June 30, 2008

Justification:
This species is considered Vulnerable due to a past and continued population decline, estimated at more
than 30% over the past 36 years (3 generations, given a generation length of 12 years), as a result of
capture for the illegal pet trade, hunting, and loss of habitat.

Previously Published Red List Assessments

2000 – Endangered (EN)

1996 – Vulnerable (VU)

Geographic Range
Range Description:
This species is endemic to Indonesia, where it occurs on Java and the smaller islands of Bali, Lombok,

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Trachypithecus auratus – published in 2008. 1
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Palau Sempu and Nusa Barung. The Lombok population may have been introduced there by humans
(Groves 2001). The boundary between the two subspecies runs from the south coast of Java at about
109°E, northwestward to the vicinity of Jakarta (Groves 2001).

Trachypithecus auratus auratus

Occurs in eastern Java, Bali, Lombok, Palau Sempu and Nusa Barung. This subspecies has two morphs,
one of which, the red morph, has a restricted distribution between Blitar, Ijen, and Pugeran, Java
(Groves 2001). The other morph is more common and found in eastern Java, west to Gunung Ujungtebu
(Brandon-Jones 1995).

Trachypithecus auratus mauritius

This subspecies has a restricted distribution in west Java to the north coast from Jakarta, inland to
Bogor, Cisalak, and Jasinga, southwest to Ujung Kulon, then along the south coast to Cikaso or Ciwangi
(Groves 2001).

Country Occurrence:
Native: Indonesia (Bali, Jawa, Kalimantan, Sumatera)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Trachypithecus auratus – published in 2008. 2
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Distribution Map

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Trachypithecus auratus – published in 2008. 3
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Population
This species was the most frequently observed primate during a survey of the Dieng Mountains in
central Java (Nijman and van Balen 1998). Nijman and van Balen (1998) reported it to be rather common
on both Mount Prahu and the central part of the study area in the Pegunungan Dieng Mountains where
they also estimate a density of 23 individuals/km2. From a review of 14 studies, densities were
estimated as following: 7.9 (+/- 8.8) groups/km2, and individuals estimated at 114 (+/- 147.9)
groups/km2 (E. Meijaard and V. Nijman pers. comm.).
Current Population Trend:  Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

T. auratus occurs in mangrove, beach, and freshwater swamp forests, ever-wet lowland and hill forests,
dry deciduous forests, and montane forest up to 3,000-3,500 m (Nijman 2000), in addition to teak,
rasamala, and acacia forest plantations.

It is mostly folivorous, preferring to eat leaves and flowers, though it will consume the seeds of fruits
and unripened fruits as well (Nijman 2000). In the Dieng Mountains of central Java, it has been recorded
from both primary and secondary forest, both on the edges and in the interior (Nijman and van Balen
1998). Home range was calculated by Kool (1993) to be 20-30 ha and may be bigger in Java.

Systems:  Terrestrial

Threats (see Appendix for additional information)

Threats include habitat loss and degradation due to expanding agriculture and human settlements,
hunting for food and increasingly for the pet trade, fragmentation, and small isolated populations.

Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)

This species is listed under CITES Appendix II, and has been protected by Indonesian law since 1999. It
has been recorded from Pangandaran Nature Reserve (Watanabe et al. 1996), Gunung Halimun and
Ujung Kulon National Park (Gurmaya et al. 1994), and is one of the more common and thriving colobines
in captivity.

Credits
Assessor(s): Nijman, V. & Supriatna, J.

Reviewer(s): Mittermeier, R.A. & Rylands, A.B. (Primate Red List Authority)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Trachypithecus auratus – published in 2008. 4
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Bibliography
Brandon-Jones, D. 1995. A revision of the Asian pied leaf monkeys (Mammalia: Cercopithecidae:
superspecies Semnopithecus auratus), with a description of a new subspecies. Raffles Bulletin of
Zoology 43: 3-43.

Groves, C. P. 2001. Primate taxonomy. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA.

Gurmaya, K. J., Adiputra, I. M. W., Saryatiman, A. B., Danardono, S. N. and Sibuea, T. T. H. 1994. A
preliminary study on ecology and conservation of the Java primates in Ujung Kulon National Park, West
Java, Indonesia. In: B. Thierry, J. R. Anderson, J. J. Roeder and N. Herrenschmidt (eds), Current
Primatology, Universite Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France.

Kool, K. 1993. The diet and feeding behavior of the silver leaf monkey (Trachypithecus auratus
sondaicus) in Indonesia. International Journal of Primatology 14(5): 667–700.

Maryanto, I., Mansjoer, I., Sajuthi, D. and Supriatna, J. 1997. Morphological variation in the Ebony and
Silver leaf monkeys [Trachypithecus auratus (E. Geoffroy, 1812) and Trachypithecus cristatus (Raffles,
1821)] from Southeast Asia. Treubia 31: 113-131.

Nijman, V. 2000. Geographic distribution of ebony leaf monkey Trachypithecus auratus (E. Geoffroy
Saint-Hilaire, 1812) (Mammalia: primates: Cercopithecidae). Contributions to Zoology 69(3).

Nijman, V. and van Balen, S. 1998. A faunal survey of the Dieng Mountains, central Java, Indonesia:
distribution and conservation of endemic primate taxa. Oryx 32(2): 145 – 156.

Rosenblum, L. L., Supriatna, J., Hasan, M. N. and Melnick, D. J. 1997. High mitochondrial DNA diversity
with little structure within and among leaf monkey populations (Trachypithecus cristatus and
Trachypithecus auratus). International Journal of Primatology 18(6): 1005-1028.

Watanabe, K., Mitani, M., Arakane, T., Gurmaya, K. J., Dirgayusa, W. A., Megantara, E. N. and
Brotoisworo, E. 1996. Population changes of Presbytis auratus and Macaca fascicularis in the
Pangandaran Nature Reserve, west Java, Indonesia. Primate Research 12: 271.

Citation
Nijman, V. & Supriatna, J. 2008. Trachypithecus auratus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008:
e.T22034A9348260. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T22034A9348260.en

Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.

External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Trachypithecus auratus – published in 2008. 5
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T22034A9348260.en
 Appendix

Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Major
Habitat Season Suitability
Importance?

1. Forest -> 1.5. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry - Suitable No

1. Forest -> 1.6. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland - Suitable Yes

1. Forest -> 1.7. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Mangrove Vegetation Above - Suitable Yes
High Tide Level

1. Forest -> 1.9. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane - Suitable Yes

14. Artificial/Terrestrial -> 14.3. Artificial/Terrestrial - Plantations - Suitable Yes

Use and Trade

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

End Use Local National International

Food - human Yes No No

Pets/display animals, horticulture Yes Yes No

Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Threat Timing Scope Severity Impact Score

1. Residential & commercial development -> 1.1. Ongoing - - -

Housing & urban areas
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual & Ongoing - - -

perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.2. Small-holder
farming
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

5. Biological resource use -> 5.1. Hunting & trapping Ongoing - - -

terrestrial animals -> 5.1.1. Intentional use (species is
the target)
Stresses: 2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality

Conservation Actions in Place

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Trachypithecus auratus – published in 2008. 6
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 Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management

Conservation sites identified: Yes, over entire range

In-Place Species Management

Subject to ex-situ conservation: Yes

In-Place Education

Included in international legislation: Yes

Subject to any international management/trade controls: Yes

Conservation Actions Needed

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions Needed

1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection

1. Land/water protection -> 1.2. Resource & habitat protection

2. Land/water management -> 2.1. Site/area management

3. Species management -> 3.1. Species management -> 3.1.1. Harvest management

3. Species management -> 3.1. Species management -> 3.1.2. Trade management

4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications

5. Law & policy -> 5.4. Compliance and enforcement -> 5.4.2. National level

Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.1. Taxonomy

1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends

1. Research -> 1.5. Threats

1. Research -> 1.6. Actions

3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends

Additional Data Fields

Distribution
Lower elevation limit (m): 0

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Trachypithecus auratus – published in 2008. 7
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 Distribution
Upper elevation limit (m): 3500

Population
Population severely fragmented: No

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Trachypithecus auratus – published in 2008. 8
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The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN
Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™