Comparison of locomotor behaviour between white-headed langurs Trachypithecus leucocephalus and Franois' langurs T. franoisi in Fusui,China

We studied the locomotor behaviour of white-headed langurs Trachypithecus leucocephalus and Francois＇ langurs T.francoisi to test two hypotheses： （1） these monkeys have evolved locomotor ability to support their activities on limestone hills, and （2） Francois＇ langurs have evolved more diverse locomotor skills than white-headed langurs. Data were collected from 1996 - 1998 and in 2005 in Fusui Nature Reserve, Guangxi, and showed that the two species had similar locomotor types, but Francois＇ langurs had more locomotor modes （26） than white-headed langurs （12）. Quadrupedal walking and leaping were two major types, and white-headed langurs were more arboreal than Francois＇ langurs. We suggest that, while keeping their ancestral locomotor types, the two species have evolved new types allowing them to live on limestone cliffs. Compared to white-headed langurs, Francois＇ langurs have more diverse locomotor modes that probably have allowed them to live in more habitat types. As an evolutionary outcome, Francois＇ langurs have a larger distribution range .

Sleeping site use of the white-headed langur Trachypithecus leucocephalus： The role of predation risk, territorial defense, and proximity to feeding sites

We collected data on sleeping site use from two groups of white-headed langurs Trachypithecus leucocephalus living in Fusui Nature Reserve, China between August 2007 and July 2008. This information was used to test several hypotheses regarding ultimate causes of sleeping site use in this primate. White-headed langurs slept either in caves （17 sites） or on a cliffledge （one site）. They used all sleeping sites repeatedly, and reused some of them on consecutive nights; three nights was the longest consecutive use of any one sleep site. We suggest that langurs use sleeping sites to make approach and attack by predators difficult, and to increase their own familiarity with a location so as to improve chances for escape. Langurs＇ cryptic behaviors with an increased level of vigilance before entering sleeping sites may also help in decreasing the possibility of detection by predators. Group 1 spent more sleeping nights in the central area of their territory than expected; in contrast, group 2 spent more sleeping nights in the periphery of their territory, which overlaps with that of another groups, than expected. The position of sleeping site relative to the last feeding site of the day and the first feeding site of the subsequent morning indicated a strategy closer to that of a multiple central place forager than of a central place forager. These results suggest that territory defense and food access may play an important role in sleeping site use of white-headed langurs [Current Zoology 57 （3）： 260-268, 2011].

Distinctive Features of the Property of Cat Ba Archipelago, Vietnam

The nominated property, Cat Ba Archipelago, includes Cat Ba Archipelago Biosphere Reserve, Cat Ba National Park, and Long Chau Island group, which belongs to Cat Hai District, Hal Phong City, Vietnam. Cat Ba Archipelago represents the ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of Asia＇s characteristic marine and insular ecosystems, both tropical and subtropic. The nominated property is a high biodiversity center with 3,860 species of plants and animals on islands and in the sea, of which 130 species are recorded on the Red Lists of Nationally and Internationally Threatened Species, and 76 species on the IUCN Red List of Globally Threatened Species. The iconic Cat Ba white-headed langur （Trachypithecus poliocephalus） is an endemic species indigenous to Cat Ba Archipelago where at present one population of 63 individuals only survives but nowhere else in the world. The Cat Ba white-headed langur is recognized as a critically endangered species facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, thus needing urgent protection. The existence of another 20 endemic species in Cat Ba Archipelago shows that the process of evolution are on-going here, as new species continue to emerge in this unique archipelagic habitat.