Banded leaf monkeys in Singapore preliminary data on taxonomy, feeding, ecology, reproduction and population size

Abstract

Here I present new data on the critically endangered Singapore population of the banded leaf monkey (Presbytis femoralis femoralis). I estimate that there are at least 40 banded leaf monkeys in six social groups, and document that they are regularly reproducing with at least six births from 2008 to 2010. There is at least one birth season each year (June ¿ July). I identify 23 food plant species of the banded leaf monkeys in Singapore, of which more than half are locally threatened. I also examine the genetic variability between populations in Singapore, Johor, and Northern Malay Peninsula. I extracted mtDNA from feces of the Singapore population and amplified three genes. 12S rRNA sequences are identical and cytochrome b near identical (<0.51%) for the Singapore and Johor populations, which most likely belong to the same subspecies, while the Northern Malay Peninsula population probably belongs to a different species (cyt-b: 9.8%).