One of the most striking members of the Presbytis genus and a true canopy specialist of the lush rainforests of Borneo. With its rich, reddish-maroon fur, long limbs, and expressive face, this arboreal primate is perfectly adapted to a life spent high in the trees, feeding, socializing, and gliding through the branches with remarkable agility.

Their most distinctive feature is their vibrant fur, which can vary from deep reddish-brown to bright orange, depending on the region and individual. They have a small, narrow face, often framed by a pale or white ring of fur around the mouth and eyes, giving them a curious, intelligent expression. Their long, slender tails—longer than their bodies—help them balance as they navigate the forest canopy.

As with other leaf monkeys, the maroon leaf monkey is primarily folivorous, meaning it feeds mostly on leaves, along with young shoots, unripe fruits, flowers, and seeds. Because their diet is low in energy, they have a specialized, multi-chambered stomach that uses fermentation to break down tough plant material—similar to how cows digest grass. This allows them to survive on food sources that many other animals would find indigestible, but it also means they spend much of their time resting and digesting between feeding bouts.

Maroon leaf monkeys are highly arboreal and social, living in small groups typically made up of one adult male, several females, and their young. They communicate through soft calls, body language, and facial expressions, and while not as vocal as some monkeys, males do produce low, booming calls to establish territory or warn off rival males. The group is usually peaceful and quiet, moving slowly through the upper canopy in search of food.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Brunei

2015

Presence Uncertain

Indonesia

2015

Kalimantan

Malaysia

2015

Sarawak, Sabah