GOLDEN SNUB-NOSED MONKEY

Rhinopithecus roxellana

Geographic Distribution and Habitat

The golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana), also known as the Sichuan golden-snub monkey, is an Afro-Eurasian primate native to the central and southwestern regions of China. Isolated populations of golden snub-nosed monkeys can be found within the four regions of East China, Central-South China, Southwest China, and Northwest China, becoming scarcer and scarcer the farther east you travel. Their presence and numbers depend on the climate and the plants found within the area. As a matter of fact, although golden snub-nosed monkeys can be found in various habitats in China, they are more common in mountainous regions in evergreen broad-leaved forests, sometimes mixed with deciduous trees, that is, trees that shed their leaves.

The golden snub-nosed monkey can withstand very cold temperatures better than any other living primate. They can even be found at altitudes of 6,000–10,000 feet (1,800–3,000 m) above sea level, where temperatures reach as low as 17.1°F (−8.3°C). They might cope with low temperatures well, but when it’s really freezing out there, they tend to migrate to lower valleys in search of milder temperatures. The golden snub-nosed monkey is found in more places across China than any other snub-nosed langur species.

TAXONOMIC NOTES

China is home to three different subspecies of the golden snub-nosed monkey: The Moupon golden snub-nosed monkey, Rhinopithecus roxellana roxellana, is found in Sichuan and Gansu provinces, the Quinlin golden snub-nosed monkey, R. r. qinlingensis is found in Shaanxi province, and the Hubei golden snub-nosed monkey, R. r. hubeiensis, is found in Hubei province. These subspecies have slightly different appearances due to the different habitats that they inhabit. For example, in the Shaanxi province, these monkeys live mostly in deciduous forests; in the Hubei province, their habitat is characterized by evergreen cone-bearing trees; while the golden snub-nosed monkeys that live in the Hubei province live in mixed forests.

Size, Weight, and Lifespan

Male and female golden-snub monkeys look different. For starters, males are, on average, bigger than females. Male golden-snub monkeys are between 23 inches and 27 inches (58.2 cm to 68 cm) long, while females are between 18 inches and 20 inches (47.5 cm to 51.8 cm) long. Males are also heavier: weighing around 43 pounds (19.8 kg), they stand in striking contrast to the more slender build of females, who weigh only around 27 pounds (12.4 kg).

There is limited knowledge about the life expectancy of these small primates; however, they have reportedly lived beyond 23 years in captivity.

Appearance

The golden snub-nosed monkey has a beautifully hued coat that changes during the various seasons of the year. Their mantle is of a brownish-grey color in the summer. When colder temperatures approach, it is shed to reveal a bright orange coat with thicker, longer hair, much more apt to protect them during the icy winter.

When looking at a golden snub-nosed monkey, one can’t help but notice their unusual light blue face. The area surrounding the eyes is particularly bright, while it becomes much more subtle, almost grey, near the almost hairless mouth. Their eyes are round and black; their noses are completely flat. Their limbs tend to be of a darker color, whereas their bellies are usually lighter, with a color that resembles light caramel. They have a long nonprehensile tail, which they do not use to grasp objects, but assist with balance.

There are stark differences between male and female golden snub-nosed monkeys that are worth mentioning. Besides the previously discussed size differences, adult male golden snub-nosed monkeys have longer and darker strands of hair, absent or much less prominent in females and subadults. These strands start to appear later in life when they’re around 6 years of age and can be as long as 21.7 inches (55 cm). Males also have some wart-like growths at the corners of their mouths. Babies tend to be of a much lighter golden color.

The different subspecies also show distinct physical attributes, probably as an adaptation to the slightly different environments they live in. For example, Quinling golden snub-nosed monkeys, R. r. qinlingensis, have smaller heads, while Moupin golden snub-nosed monkeys, R. r. roxellana have shorter tails, larger and wider heads, and longer back legs.

Diet

Golden snub-nosed monkeys are foragers. They mainly eat fruits, flowers, buds, seeds, tree bark, and twigs. Their diet is greatly influenced by the environment they inhabit and follows seasonal patterns. For example, during the cold winter months, they mainly feed on lichens to stand up to the scarcity of available vegetable matter. They have even been observed to eat snow.

Golden snub-nosed monkeys are not exclusively vegetarians. They also eat insects and other invertebrates; for example, cicadas. It is unclear whether they only rely on meat-based food occasionally; however, researchers have suggested that they might feed on insects more frequently than previously thought.

Behavior and Lifestyle

Golden snub-nosed monkeys are tree-dwelling primates active during the daytime. They spend almost the entirety of their time in the trees that populate the dense forest they live in. Here, they eat, groom, play, mate, and spend their nights. At night, they tend to prefer sleeping on taller trees, and they also seem to choose flatter areas facing south, probably as a way to increase their survival chances in case of predators and to warm up, respectively. They move from tree to tree by leaping, swinging from one branch to another, and walking on all fours. In some regions (for example, in the Shaanxi region), the golden snub-nosed monkey spends more time on the ground during the winter. Here, males are semi-terrestrial, meaning that they spend almost as much time on the ground as they do in the tree canopy. Overall, it seems that their preference is influenced by ecological factors, for example, the presence of ground-dwelling predators or food availability.

Golden snub-nosed monkeys spend a lot of their days resting and feeding, although their daily activities are affected by seasonal changes. They are particularly active during summer and autumn, when available food is abundant, while they become less active in winter, given the previously mentioned lack of food. In winter, they spend more time foraging, probably because they rely on less calorie-dense, lower-quality food, which they must eat in greater amounts. Because their meals take longer, they spend less time moving around so they can save up energy and cope better with cold temperatures. In their natural habitats, they may be a target for different types of predators. Red dogs (Cuon alpinus), wolves (Canis lupus), Asiatic golden cats (Catopuma temmincki), leopards (Panthera pardus), golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), and goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) are natural predators of the golden snub-nosed monkey. To avoid bird predation, golden snub-nosed monkeys do not spend much time on the higher parts of the trees, seeking refuge between the lower branches. As it happens, trees offer protection from many ground-dwelling predators, such as wolves.

Their intricate social network also protects them from attacks, for example, from leopards. Males will try to protect their troops with aggressive displays.

Fun Facts

Royal origins: The scientific name Roxellana comes from the concubine of the Ottoman sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. She was known for her reddish-golden hair and, apparently, a slightly upturned nose.

Some Like it Cold: Unlike other primates, golden snub-nosed monkeys can endure extremely harsh cold climates. They can withstand the coldest average temperatures of any nonhuman primate.

Daily Life and Group Dynamics

The home range of the golden snub-nosed monkey is quite large, extending between 7.1 and 15.4 square miles (18.3 and 40 km²). Within this home range, there is a smaller core area. The extent to which they travel their home range varies in each season since they tend to congregate in smaller areas during the winter, while they travel further out during the warmer months as discussed earlier.

They share their habitats with several species, including the giant panda. Even though they inhabit the same environment, they occupy different parts of it and relate to their habitat differently. Giant pandas are ground-dwelling animals, while golden snub-nosed monkeys spend their time among the safety of the trees. Golden snub-nosed monkeys are highly sociable creatures.

Their group is made up of several individuals, often over 100. In each group, there usually is a single adult male, several females, and their offspring. However, such a group won’t avoid or enter into conflict with other neighboring groups. Instead, they tend to live peacefully with each other, move together within their home range, forage together, and even rest together. They form so-called breeding bands.

It is not uncommon to find all-male units living together either. These groups are made of young males who have left their family unit and who might later form their own harem. Solitary males might also be spotted; usually, they are left to be alone after being usurped by a younger, stronger male. Often, they join all-male groups rather than live on their own. All-male groups follow an age-influenced hierarchical social structure, and their relationships are kin-based. These groups will follow the breeding band, occasionally challenging them. In other words, golden snub-nosed monkeys form very complex multi-leveled societies.

Communication

Golden snub-nosed monkeys are extremely vocal creatures. Given the fact that golden snub-nosed monkeys live in highly complex social groups, it’s not surprising that around 18 different calls have been identified so far. Many of these calls are used to strengthen social bonds. For the sake of clarity, we may classify golden snub-nosed monkeys’ calls into different categories depending on whether they are mainly social calls, warning signals, or uttered in response to danger. Females are much more vocal, as they have around ten sex-specific calls, while males only have a single male-specific call type — a mounting grunt, which is a low and long grunt emitted immediately after copulation. Coos, shrills, whines, and chucks are produced in different situations, while other sounds have only been observed in single contexts, especially during social interactions at close range.

Social calls

Coos: Low frequency, long, and harmonious calls heard during traveling, foraging, and resting. They might be used to maintain social contact during relaxation.
Shrills: Tonal calls that increase in frequency before dropping. Shorter than coos, used by adult females when males rejoin them during eating or waking up from afternoon slumps.
Whines: The longest calls, relatively low in frequency but extremely loud. Emitted by adults of both sexes while feeding or by males interrupting a chorus of shrills.
Bawls: Medium-length, low-intensity harmonious sounds produced after fights. Used by females as reconciliation calls: they are uttered while hugging after a fight, for example. Males instead will lay their face on the closest group member.
Long Grunts: Harmonic and modulated tones, quite short, and the lowest in frequency. Used to defuse tense situations, similar to a warning signal, often accompanied by threatening looks.
Compound Squeaks: Produced after intense hostile behavior within a group. The dominant female initiates the call followed by the submissive female’s response, the latter having lost the fight.

Warning signals

Grunts: Higher in frequency and shorter than long grunts. Accompanied by neck stretching and glaring, used in both intra- and intergroup conflicts.
Growls: Harsh and sudden calls used by females, often leading to aggressive behavior. Other females will often respond by approaching the caller and forming alliances.

Calls in Response to Danger

Barks: Similar to growls, emitted by both males and females, usually produced when fights escalate.
Rattles: High-intensity, high-frequency, medium-length calls emitted by females who have been suddenly attacked by a male from another unit. Accompanied by fearful expressions and running away.
Squeals: High-pitched sounds emitted by females rushing to their infants in immediate danger, for example, if threatened by a male or in danger of falling.
Compound Squeals: Similar to squeals, these sounds are mixed with heavier and noisier elements. Compound squeals are emitted by females submitting to dominant individuals, resulting in submissive behaviors such as crouching and avoidance, which usually result in the dominant party halting the threat. When threatened by adults, juveniles may submit with a compound squeal.
Three-Syllabled Barks: Loud bark-like calls made of three stressed syllables. Emitted by females left behind or at the edge of a moving troop, causing others to stop and look towards the caller.
Chucks: Made of two harsh syllables, they are short and high-frequency sounds. They are emitted in response to unexpected surprises like snakes or falling branches, prompting similar behavior from others.

Of course, golden snub-nosed monkeys do not solely rely on vocal communication. Facial expressions and body position play essential roles too, as discussed. As in many other primate species, touch has a very important role as a tool essential to strengthening social bonding. Besides the previously mentioned post-conflict hugging, grooming is also often used as a way to make and maintain peace within the group. They also often sit closely together, touching each other, after fighting.

Reproduction and Family

Golden snub-nosed monkeys are polygamous, meaning that a single male will have the right to mate with several females. Females are the ones who usually initiate breeding by signaling their interest. They reach sexual maturity around the age of six. Males, instead, around the age of 3-4 after which they are expelled from their group by the dominant male, who is usually their father. They will then join an all-male neighboring group and possibly become the dominant male in the future if the odds are in their favor.

Golden snub-nosed monkeys mate between August and October, with births peaking around April. They will carry their babies for around six months before giving birth, usually, to a single offspring, although occasional twin births have been recorded. Females take good care of their babies: they groom them, feed them, and nurture them. They will even nurture the babies of other females in their group, especially when these females are related to them. Nevertheless, unrelated females also help out their group members in raising their babies. Males instead will only occasionally groom their babies.

Ecological Role

As herbivores who rely on a fruit-rich diet, golden snub-nosed monkeys contribute positively to reforestation by dispersing seeds across their home range. They also influence plant growth by feeding on leaves and branches of trees. This is extremely important because their presence positively affects the lives of other animals who share their environment. For example, they have a mutually beneficial relationship with giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Giant pandas feed on bamboo, while golden snub-nosed monkeys feed, among other things, on the leaves of the trees they live on. Pandas lower the amount of bamboo in the area, allowing more younger trees to grow; at the same time, golden snub-nosed monkeys let more sunlight shine through the canopies by feeding on leaves, small branches, and buds. In this way, they coexist and benefit from each other.

Conservation Status and Threats

The golden snub-nosed monkey is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN 2015), appearing on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. There are several reasons why the golden snub-nosed monkey is at risk of extinction, but agriculture and deforestation are the main threats. These two factors lead to habitat destruction and loss. Additionally, residential and commercial development, including the creation of housing and tourist recreational areas, is pushing these animals away from their native environment. Tourist interference, including groups gathering to view these animals in their habitat, disrupts their daily routines and might negatively affect the well-being of these animals.

Illegal hunting for meat is also a serious concern. Their meat is eaten by some local populations, and their fur is worn as a symbol of prestige; it is also thought to have medicinal properties. Traps set for other animals have also decimated the population.

Finally, climate change has played a role in decreasing the number of living golden snub-nosed monkeys. Harsher climate conditions have pushed them to higher elevations; it is estimated that by 2080, their home range will be reduced by as much as 80%. These animals depend on the presence of trees for their survival; deforestation combined with climate change is seriously threatening their existence. Without a properly sized habitat, these creatures will enter serious competition for food and shelter.

Conservation Efforts

Golden snub-nosed monkeys are listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), an international agreement between governments whose goal is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

The Chinese government has made significant efforts to raise awareness and improve the living conditions of wildlife, including the construction of the Yangtze River shelter-forest system, which aims to increase the forest area and restore degraded areas; the establishment of several natural reserves; and the building of forest urban parks. These strategies have led to an increase in their numbers; for example, in Shennongjia National Park, the estimated population of golden snub-nosed monkeys is over 1,400.

There are golden snub-nosed monkeys in several protected areas such as Baihe Nature Reserve, Foping National Nature Reserve, Shennongjia National Geopark, and Wanglang National Nature Reserve. There are currently around 8,000-15,000 individuals.

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Written by Mirko Cerrone, August 2024