Rhinopithecus roxellana

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	PRIMATES	CERCOPITHECIDAE

Scientific Name:

Rhinopithecus roxellana

Species Authority:

(Milne-Edwards, 1870)

Infra-specific Taxa Assessed:

See Rhinopithecus roxellana ssp. hubeiensis

See Rhinopithecus roxellana ssp. qinlingensis

See Rhinopithecus roxellana ssp. roxellana

Common Name/s:

English

–

Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Sichuan Golden Snub-nosed Monkey

Taxonomic Notes:

The three presently recognized subspecies differ from one another mainly in tail length, as well as in certain features of skeletal structure and width of dental arch (Groves 2001).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A2ac ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

Yongcheng, L. & Richardson, M.

Reviewer/s:

Mittermeier, R.A. & Rylands, A.B. (Primate Red List Authority)

Justification:
The species is listed as Endangered as there has been a decline of over 50% in the last 3 generations (approximately 40 years) due to forest loss. This decline is continuing, though in some areas the populations are declining at a lower rate.

History:

2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Vulnerable (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Vulnerable (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1986	–	Rare (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in west-central China (Ganssu, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Sichuan provinces) (Groves 2001). Rhinopithecus roxellana roxellana Occurs in western Sichuan (Qingchuan, Pingwu, Songpan, Beichuan, Nanping, Maoxian, Heishui, Wenchuan, Baoxing, Tianquan, Lushan, Luding counties, on Qionglaishan Mountain, Mingshan Mountain, Daxiangling and Xiaoxiangling Mountain), southern Gansu (Wenxian county in Mingshan Mountain) and southern Shaanxi (Ningqian country) (L. Yongcheng pers. comm.). Rhinopithecus roxellana qinlingensis Occurs in southern Shaanxi (Qinling Mountains, including the counties of Taibai, Zhouzhi, Foping, Yangxian, Ningshaan) (Wang et al. 1998; Li et al. 2001). Rhinopithecus roxellana hubeiensis Occurs in western Hubei and northeastern Sichuan (Shennongjia forest region of Daba Mountain, in Fangxian, Xingshan, and Batong counties) (Wang et al. 1998; Li unpubli. 2006).
Countries:	Native: China (Gansu, Hubei, Shanxi, Sichuan)
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Rhinopithecus roxellana roxellana There are about 10,000 individuals in 100 troops in Sichuan (6,000 individuals in Mingshan Mountain, 3,500 in Qionglaishan Mountain, and 500 in Daxiangling and Xiaoxianling Mountain), about 800 individuals in 8 troops in Gansu, and about 170-200 individuals in 1 or 2 troops in Shaanxi (Zhang 1995; Jiang 2005; Li unpubl. 2006). Rhinopithecus roxellana qinlingensis There are approximately 3,800-4,000 total individuals belonging to 39 troops (Li et al. 2001). Around half of these are mature individuals. Since the mid 1990s, the population appears to have stabilized. Rhinopithecus roxellana hubeiensis There are about 600-1,000 individuals in 5-6 troops (Ren et al. 1998).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Rhinopithecus roxellana roxellana
There are about 10,000 individuals in 100 troops in Sichuan (6,000 individuals in Mingshan Mountain, 3,500 in Qionglaishan Mountain, and 500 in Daxiangling and Xiaoxianling Mountain), about 800 individuals in 8 troops in Gansu, and about 170-200 individuals in 1 or 2 troops in Shaanxi (Zhang 1995; Jiang 2005; Li unpubl. 2006).

Rhinopithecus roxellana qinlingensis
There are approximately 3,800-4,000 total individuals belonging to 39 troops (Li et al. 2001). Around half of these are mature individuals. Since the mid 1990s, the population appears to have stabilized.

Rhinopithecus roxellana hubeiensis
There are about 600-1,000 individuals in 5-6 troops (Ren et al. 1998).

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is found only in montane forests where snow cover can last for up to six months of the year (Allen 1938; Davison 1982). In the Qinling Mountains it is found in mixed deciduous-broadleaf forests from 1,400 to 2,800 m (Gao and Liu 1995; Li et al. 2001). It can also occur in other forest types, including mixed conifer-broadleaf and deciduous broadleaf. Rhinopithecus roxellana roxellana and Rhinopithecus roxellana hubeiensis are found more often in mixed conifer and deciduous broadleaf forests. It is semi-terrestrial, diurnal, and folivorous, but will also eat seeds, fruit, bark, insects, and small vertebrates.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species is found only in montane forests where snow cover can last for up to six months of the year (Allen 1938; Davison 1982). In the Qinling Mountains it is found in mixed deciduous-broadleaf forests from 1,400 to 2,800 m (Gao and Liu 1995; Li et al. 2001). It can also occur in other forest types, including mixed conifer-broadleaf and deciduous broadleaf. Rhinopithecus roxellana roxellana and Rhinopithecus roxellana hubeiensis are found more often in mixed conifer and deciduous broadleaf forests. It is semi-terrestrial, diurnal, and folivorous, but will also eat seeds, fruit, bark, insects, and small vertebrates.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Rhinopithecus roxellana The major threat for the species is forest loss due to agricultural expansion, especially outside of protected areas. Rhinopithecus roxellana roxellana The major threat is habitat loss. Secondarily, there is a serious threat from continued illegal hunting of this subspecies. There is also harassment owing to tourist activities, including the herding of troops for tourists to view. Rhinopithecus roxellana qinlingensis In the Qinling Mountains tourism is having a significant negative impact, mainly due to the creation of roads and other infrastructure. Before 1990, there were threats from illegal hunting, but this has stopped due to increased government protection. Rhinopithecus roxellana hubeiensis There is a serious threat to this subspecies from tourism-related activities, along with continued habitat loss. Before 1990, there were threats from illegal hunting, but this has stopped due to increased government protection.

Major Threat(s):

Rhinopithecus roxellana
The major threat for the species is forest loss due to agricultural expansion, especially outside of protected areas.

Rhinopithecus roxellana roxellana
The major threat is habitat loss. Secondarily, there is a serious threat from continued illegal hunting of this subspecies. There is also harassment owing to tourist activities, including the herding of troops for tourists to view.

Rhinopithecus roxellana qinlingensis
In the Qinling Mountains tourism is having a significant negative impact, mainly due to the creation of roads and other infrastructure. Before 1990, there were threats from illegal hunting, but this has stopped due to increased government protection.

Rhinopithecus roxellana hubeiensis
There is a serious threat to this subspecies from tourism-related activities, along with continued habitat loss. Before 1990, there were threats from illegal hunting, but this has stopped due to increased government protection.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is listed on CITES Appendix I, and as Category I of the Chinese Wildlife Protection Act, 1989. Protected areas where this species definitely known to occur include: Baihe Nature Reserve, Changqing Nature Reserve, Foping Nature Reserve, Laoxiancheng Nature Reserve, Shennongjia Nature Reserve, Taibai Nature Reserve, Wanglang Nature Reserve, Zhouzhi Nature Reserve (M. Richardson pers. comm.), although according to L. Yongcheng (pers. comm.) it is to be found in a much larger number of nature reserves. It is almost never seen in captivity outside of Asia (M. Richardson pers. comm.).

Conservation Actions:

This species is listed on CITES Appendix I, and as Category I of the Chinese Wildlife Protection Act, 1989.
Protected areas where this species definitely known to occur include: Baihe Nature Reserve, Changqing Nature Reserve, Foping Nature Reserve, Laoxiancheng Nature Reserve, Shennongjia Nature Reserve, Taibai Nature Reserve, Wanglang Nature Reserve, Zhouzhi Nature Reserve (M. Richardson pers. comm.), although according to L. Yongcheng (pers. comm.) it is to be found in a much larger number of nature reserves. It is almost never seen in captivity outside of Asia (M. Richardson pers. comm.).

Bibliography [top]

	Allen, G. M. 1938. The mammals of China and Mongolia Part I. Natural History of Central China, pp. 1-620. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Davison, G. W. H. 1982. Convergence with terrestrial Cercopithecines by the monkey Rhinopithecus roxellanae. Folia Primatologica 37: 209-215. Gao, Y. and Liu, S. 1995. Physiological adaptations of golden monkeys to high altitude habitat in the Qinling mountains. Asian Primates 51(1-2): 17-19. Groves, C. P. 2001. Primate taxonomy. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA. Jiang, Z. 2005. Biodiversity of the Qingmuchuan Nature Reserve, Shaanxi, China. Tsinghua University Press, Beijing, China. Kirkpatrick, R., Gu, H. G. and Zhou, X. P. 1999. A preliminary report on Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) at Baihe Nature Reserve. Folia Primatologica 70(2): 117–120. Li, B., Chen, C., Ji, W. and Ren, B. 2000. Seasonal home range changes of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in the Qinling Mountains of China. Folia Primatologica 71(6): 375-386. Li, B., He, P., Yang, X., Wei, W., Ren, B., Yang, J., Si, K. and Liu, Y. 2001. The present status of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey in the Qinling Mountains of China, and a proposed conservation strategy for the species. Biosphere Conservation 3(2): 107-114. Li, Y. 2001. The seasonal diet of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia Nature Reserve, China. Folia Primatologica 72(1): 40 – 43. Li, Y. 2004. The effect of forest clear-cutting on habitat use in Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia Nature Reserve, China. Primates 45(1): 69 – 72. Ren, R. M., Su, Y., Yan, K. H., Li, J. J., Zhou, Y., Zhu, Z. Q., Hu, Z. L. and Hu, Y. F. 1998. Preliminary survey of the social organization of Rhinopithecus [Rhinopithecus] roxellana in Shennongjia National Natural Reserve, Hubei, China. In: N. G. Jablonski (ed.), The Natural History of the Doucs and Snub-nosed Monkeys, pp. 269-277. World Scientific Publishing Co. Ltd., Singapore. Wang Y., Jiang X. and Lid D. 1998. Classificaiton and distribution of the extant subspecies of golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana). In: N. G. Jablonski (ed.), The Natural History of the Doucs and Snub-nosed Monkeys, pp. 53–64. World Scientific Publishing Company, Singapore. Zhang, T. 1995. Population and conservation of the snub-nosed monkey on the northern slope of the Qin Rause, Gansu, China. In: W. Xia and Y. Zhang (eds), Primate research and Conservation, pp. 138-142. Forestry Publishing House, Beijing, China.

Allen, G. M. 1938. The mammals of China and Mongolia Part I. Natural History of Central China, pp. 1-620. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA.

Davison, G. W. H. 1982. Convergence with terrestrial Cercopithecines by the monkey Rhinopithecus roxellanae. Folia Primatologica 37: 209-215.

Gao, Y. and Liu, S. 1995. Physiological adaptations of golden monkeys to high altitude habitat in the Qinling mountains. Asian Primates 51(1-2): 17-19.

Groves, C. P. 2001. Primate taxonomy. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA.

Jiang, Z. 2005. Biodiversity of the Qingmuchuan Nature Reserve, Shaanxi, China. Tsinghua University Press, Beijing, China.

Kirkpatrick, R., Gu, H. G. and Zhou, X. P. 1999. A preliminary report on Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) at Baihe Nature Reserve. Folia Primatologica 70(2): 117–120.

Li, B., Chen, C., Ji, W. and Ren, B. 2000. Seasonal home range changes of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in the Qinling Mountains of China. Folia Primatologica 71(6): 375-386.

Li, B., He, P., Yang, X., Wei, W., Ren, B., Yang, J., Si, K. and Liu, Y. 2001. The present status of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey in the Qinling Mountains of China, and a proposed conservation strategy for the species. Biosphere Conservation 3(2): 107-114.

Li, Y. 2001. The seasonal diet of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia Nature Reserve, China. Folia Primatologica 72(1): 40 – 43.

Li, Y. 2004. The effect of forest clear-cutting on habitat use in Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia Nature Reserve, China. Primates 45(1): 69 – 72.

Ren, R. M., Su, Y., Yan, K. H., Li, J. J., Zhou, Y., Zhu, Z. Q., Hu, Z. L. and Hu, Y. F. 1998. Preliminary survey of the social organization of Rhinopithecus [Rhinopithecus] roxellana in Shennongjia National Natural Reserve, Hubei, China. In: N. G. Jablonski (ed.), The Natural History of the Doucs and Snub-nosed Monkeys, pp. 269-277. World Scientific Publishing Co. Ltd., Singapore.

Wang Y., Jiang X. and Lid D. 1998. Classificaiton and distribution of the extant subspecies of golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana). In: N. G. Jablonski (ed.), The Natural History of the Doucs and Snub-nosed Monkeys, pp. 53–64. World Scientific Publishing Company, Singapore.

Zhang, T. 1995. Population and conservation of the snub-nosed monkey on the northern slope of the Qin Rause, Gansu, China. In: W. Xia and Y. Zhang (eds), Primate research and Conservation, pp. 138-142. Forestry Publishing House, Beijing, China.

Citation:	Yongcheng, L. & Richardson, M. 2008. Rhinopithecus roxellana. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2012.
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