First record on melanism in Semnopithecus priam from Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Semnopithecus priam is a Near Threatened species found in southern India and Sri Lanka. On 25 July 2020, a melanistic S. priam individual was observed in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India. This observation revealed that it is the first known case of melanism in Semnopithecus priam in India and its distributional range.

Keywords

• cercopithecidae
• mammal
• nilgiris
• primate
• western ghats