Pygathrix nemaeus
CR

Pygathrix nemaeus

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-shanked_douc

Overview

The red-shanked douc is an arboreal and diurnal Old World monkey belonging to the Colobinae subfamily. They are endemic to Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. They are known for their bright colors and exhibit sexual dimorphism through their body size.

The species has been declared critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with the main threats being: hunting, habitat loss and pet trade. They are one of three species in the genus Pygathrix, the other two being the black-shanked and gray-shanked doucs.

The Red-shanked Douc faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its Vietnamese and Laotian range. Hunting pressure for traditional medicine and the illegal pet trade has intensified population losses, while agricultural expansion and infrastructure development continue to fragment remaining forest corridors. The species' specialized diet of young leaves and fruits makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat quality degradation, as logging operations remove preferred food trees.

Threat summary

Habitat

Red-shanked Doucs inhabit primary and secondary tropical forests in the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos, preferring the upper canopy of evergreen and semi-evergreen forests at elevations between 200-2,000 meters. They require diverse forest ecosystems with abundant young leaves, shoots, and fruits from multiple tree species.

Forest· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Pygathrix nemaeus classified as Critically Endangered?
Pygathrix nemaeus is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Red-shanked Douc faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its Vietnamese and Laotian range. Hunting pressure for traditional medicine and the illegal pet trade has intensified population losses, while agricultural expansion and infrastructure development continue to fragment remaining forest corridors. The species' specialized diet of young leaves and fruits makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat quality degradation, as logging operations remove preferred food trees.
Where does Pygathrix nemaeus live?
Pygathrix nemaeus occurs in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Pygathrix nemaeus?
The main threats to Pygathrix nemaeus are 2.1, 3.2, 4.1, and 5.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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