# François' Lutung (*Trachypithecus francoisi*) François' Lutung is a playful monkey with a beautiful black and white face. They love to swing through the trees and eat tasty leaves in their forest home. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Francois' Langur, Francois' Monkey ![François' Lutung](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Trachypithecus_francoisi_3398.jpg&width=800) Photo: Lea Maimone, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trachypithecus_francoisi_3398.jpg) ## Appearance The François' Lutung is a strikingly beautiful primate with glossy black fur covering its entire body. It has distinctive white sideburns that contrast sharply with its dark face and a prominent crest of black hair on its head, giving it a unique, sophisticated look. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Cercopithecidae - **Genus:** Trachypithecus ## Interesting facts - Baby lutungs are born with bright orange fur, turning black as they grow! - Female lutungs often share baby care, helping each other raise their young! - Lutungs are picky eaters, carefully choosing only the freshest, most tender leaves! - They often live near limestone cliffs and caves for shelter and protection! ## Special abilities - **Digestive Powerhouse:** François' Lutung has a multi-chambered stomach that helps them digest tough leaves and plant fibers. - **Balance Master:** François' Lutung has a long, powerful tail that helps them balance when leaping between high tree branches. - **Agile Leaper:** François' Lutung has powerful legs for making long, precise jumps between tree branches, helping them escape danger. - **Voice of the Forest:** François' Lutung can produce calls and whistles that help them communicate with their troop and warn of predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 55-64 cm - **Weight:** 5.5-7.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-25 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 180-210 days ## Diet & Feeding These primates munch on fresh leaves and young shoots from tropical plants. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Young shoots, Fruits, Flowers, Bark - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Clouded Leopard (*Neofelis nebulosa*) — A top predator, occasionally preying on lutungs. - **Eaten by:** [Burmese Python](https://www.snappit.app/explore/burmese-python) (*Python bivittatus*) — Large snakes can ambush lutungs, especially on the ground. - **Eaten by:** Crested Serpent Eagle (*Spilornis cheela*) — May prey on young or less vigilant lutungs from above. - **Depends on:** Lofty Fig (*Ficus altissima*) — Provides essential leaves, fruit, and shelter, crucial for survival. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and don't try to touch wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify François' Lutung? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is François' Lutung? 55-64 cm ### How much does François' Lutung weigh? 5.5-7.5 kg ### How long does François' Lutung live? 15-25 years ### How fast can François' Lutung move? 25 km/h ### What does François' Lutung eat? These primates munch on fresh leaves and young shoots from tropical plants. ### Where is François' Lutung usually found? Forests ### How does François' Lutung hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [François' Lutung: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fran%C3%A7ois-lutung)