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Having now selected and developed a number of the previously mentioned photos I took last week, I thought I'd show you the first of these today: a mother Red-Shanked Douc Langur and one of her sons; both brothers were born on 7th May 2011 at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Chonburi, Thailand.

Langurs are a species of “Old World” monkey belonging to the subfamily known as Colobinae, also known as Leaf Monkeys. There are 59 species in 10 genera of this subfamily ranging from Africa (one example would be the Black and White Colobus) and throughout Asia. Though Leaf Monkey and Langur are usually names reserved for the Asian species, the Proboscis Monkey (endemic to the island of Borneo) also belongs to this subfamily.

Red-Shanked Douc Langurs are native to Southeast Asia, most notably parts of Southern China, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. As the name suggests, the diet of Leaf Monkeys primarily consists of leaves, and the digestive system of Langurs is specially adapted: the surface their teeth are covered in ridges enabling them to grind tough leaves better; their intestines are very long, slowing the process of food to the stomach and thereby allowing the breakdown of food further along the way; and a 3-chambered stomach allows a large enough space for the digestive system to complete the task.

Hope that was of some interest to at least a few of you ;^)

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