PATTERNS OF SPATIAL-DISPERSION, LOCOMOTION AND FORAGING BEHAVIOR IN 3GROUPS OF THE YUNNAN SNUB-NOSED LANGUR (RHINOPITHECUS-BIETI)

Aspects of the behaviour of three groups of Yunnan snub-nosed langurs, Rhinopithecus bieti, were observed over the course of three field sea sons from 1986 to 1988. The major findings of the study were: (1) The habitats of R. bieti were mainly at heights of 3,600-4,150 m above sea level. (2) Groups were very large, with group sizes ranging from more than 100 to 269 individuals. (3) Spatial dispersion densities ranged from about 27 to 106 m2/individual during sleeping and resting, to fee ding dispersions as large as 5,000-15,000 m2. (4) The locomotor repert oire of R. bieti consisted largely of walking, jumping and climbing. O n very rare occasions, semibrachiation was observed, but true brachiat ion was never observed. The locomotor repertoires of juveniles were mo re diverse than those of subadults or adults. (5) Communication consis ted mainly of eye-to-eye contact accompanied by murmurs; while loud ca lls were heard only rarely. (6) Groups moved between sleeping and feed ing sites in single file. It is concluded that R. bieti is a mainly te rrestrial species.