Sri Lankan Tufted Gray Langur

There are nine species of gray langur, two of which are in Sri Lanka: (1) the tufted gray langur; and (2) the purple-faced langur. There are two subspecies of tufted gray langur (Semnopithecus prima), one found in India (S. p. priam) and one found in Sri Lanka (S. p. thersites). 

I love these monkeys.

In Anuradhapura.

The Sri Lankan subspecies has an upper area or back that is gray to brownish gray and it gets darker with age. It has a short whitish beard and side-burns and a black face and ears. The hair of the crown forms a pointed tuft or crest which meets at a central point and gives it the "tufted" name. It has black eyebrows that project outward, hands and feet that are the same color as the limbs and it has a very long tail - 32 to 35 inches long. 

White beard and side-burns, black face and ears, pointed tuft on the head and projecting black eyebrows. 

Very long tail and brownish gray back. 

The long tail falls out of the photo.

The eyelashes stand out. 

It is my favorite monkey so far and I could watch it for hours. It is wonderfully distinctive looking and playful. 

An old "man" and a youngster in Bundala NP.

A mother and youngster.

We saw it in many different areas of Sri Lanka, including Anuradhapura, Polonarruwa, Udawalawe NP, Yala NP and Bundala NP. We've seen monkeys in other countries, but nothing like the volume or frequency in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is a place for those who like monkeys. 

Tucked away in the trees in Udawalawe NP.

Standing on hind legs, something we didn't see very often.