Mammals Active during the day

Javan Lutung

Trachypithecus auratus

iNaturalist Wikipedia

Meet the glossy acrobat of the Indonesian archipelago. Whether in their signature ebony coat or the rare golden morph, the Javan Lutung is a master of the canopy and a symbol of Java's vibrant biodiversity.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Body length 44–65 cm (17–26 in); Tail length 61–87 cm (24–34 in); Weight around 7 kg (15.4 lbs)

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Colors

Typically glossy jet-black with brownish-red tinges on the limbs; a rarer 'golden' morph exists which is a vibrant orange-red color.

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Key Features

Extraordinarily long, non-prehensile tail used for balance
Puffy, distinct sideburns and facial hair tufts
Slender, athletic build optimized for leaping
Infants are born bright orange regardless of adult color morph

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 7-10 AM, 3-5 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily folivorous, eating young leaves, but also consumes fruit, flowers, and flower buds. They possess a specialized multi-chambered stomach to ferment and break down tough plant cellulose.

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Habitat Primary and secondary rainforests, mangrove forests, and occasionally teak plantations or forest edges near rural gardens.

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Where Does the Javan Lutung Live?

Native to the tropical islands of the Indonesian archipelago, the Javan Lutung is found across the island of Java. Its presence also extends to the neighboring islands of Bali and Lombok. They are most concentrated in protected national parks and remote forested regions, though they are increasingly seen on the fringes of agricultural land as their natural habitats become fragmented.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

1 Countries

132K km² Range

Vulnerable Conservation

ID Indonesia

Marginal

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Javan Lutung is a highly social primate, typically living in groups of 5 to 20 individuals. These groups are usually led by a single dominant male and include several females and their offspring. Within the troop, social bonding is reinforced through grooming and vocalizations, though the males are known to be fiercely territorial when encountering rival groups.

As diurnal creatures, they are most active during daylight hours, spending nearly their entire lives in the upper canopy of the forest. They are exceptional acrobats, capable of making massive leaps between branches using their long tails for stabilization. While they are generally shy around humans, they have become habituated to observers in specific protected parks and forest edges.

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Camera Tips

To capture high-quality footage of the Javan Lutung, you must look up. These monkeys are arboreal specialists and rarely descend to the ground unless absolutely necessary. Mounting your camera 3 to 5 meters high on a sturdy trunk facing a known 'canopy bridge'—a place where branches from two trees meet—is your best strategy for seeing them in motion.

Look for signs of feeding, such as freshly dropped half-eaten fruit or stripped leaves, and place your camera nearby. Fruiting Ficus trees are a magnet for these primates. Because they move with incredible speed when jumping, set your camera to a fast trigger speed (0.2 seconds or less) and use the 'Burst' mode to ensure you don't just catch a departing tail.

In tropical environments, lens fogging is a major issue. Use anti-fog desiccant packets inside your camera housing and try to position the lens so it isn't facing the direct morning sun, which can cause 'white-out' and trigger the PIR sensor prematurely. If you are on the edge of a backyard or plantation, aim the camera at the highest visible branches where the forest canopy begins.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Javan Lutung.

Javan Surili

Features a prominent head crest and a grey/white belly, whereas the Lutung is mostly solid black or orange.

Silvered Leaf Monkey

Has silver-tipped fur giving it a frosted look, while the Javan Lutung is glossy jet-black.

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Frequently Asked Questions

They are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. Their peak activity usually occurs in the early morning between 7-10 AM and again in the late afternoon before dusk as they forage for leaves and fruit.

If you live near their native range, the best way to attract them is by preserving or planting native Javanese fruit trees like Ficus or ensuring you have a 'green corridor' of tall trees that allows them to travel through the canopy without coming to the ground.

They are leaf-eaters (folivores) but also enjoy a varied diet of seasonal fruits, flowers, and buds. Their specialized stomachs allow them to digest tough plant matter that other monkeys cannot.

They are not common in urban centers but are frequently seen in 'suburban' areas that border national parks or large forest fragments, often raiding fruit trees on the edge of rural villages.

The Javan Lutung is typically all black and has very long sideburns, whereas the Javan Surili has a distinctive pointed crest of hair on its head and a grey-to-white underside.

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