Gray langurs are large, herbivorous monkeys from India. They inhabit a variety of habitats, from desert to jungle and lowlands to mountains. They often frequent human settlements, including cities, fields, and villages. These are lanky monkeys with gray fur and black skin visible on their faces, ears, palms and soles.
Gray langurs eat leaves, needles, cones, fruit, buds, shoots, roots, seeds, grass, ferns, bamboo, moss, and lichen, and may raid crops. They forage during the day, and roost in trees or other high structures (such as lamp-posts or telephone poles) at night. Ungulates often forage underneath trees whith foraging bands of langurs so they can eat food the langurs drop. This is also beneficial for both groups, since the keep ears and acute smell of the ungulates combined with the acute vision of the langurs and their high vantage point helps to locate predators before they can come within striking range.
Gray langur society is matrilocal, but there are several different social structures. Some groups live with only one adult male, others have multiple males, and excess males form all-male groups. Males are dominant, the rank of the females within the group depends on their age and physical condition with younger females holding higher rank. Females within a group tend to be friendly, relations with other groups are often hostile. Males can battle each other fiercely in group take-overs. When a new male or group of males takes over a group, the males will kill the suckling young in order to return the females to estrus and allow them to mate. Males are generally gentle, supportive, and protective of the young that they themselves sired, however.