Genetic Studies of Nilgiri Langur (<i>Semnopithecus johnii</i>) from Western Ghats, Southern India Using Mitochondrial Cyt b Gene

The Nilgiri langur (Semnopithecus johnii) is a member of the subfamily Colobinae, a broad group of leaf-eating monkeys in South Asia. Endemic to the Western Ghats, the Nilgiri langur is an arboreal primate found in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. The IUCN Red List has classified the Nilgiri langur as Vulnerable due to habitat loss and fragmentation of its forest habitat, and it continues to face challenges to its long-term survival in natural settings across its distribution range. Less than 10,000 mature individuals can be found in various dispersed localities. Non-invasive sampling was employed to identify the species and assess its genetic diversity. Genomic DNA was extracted from fecal samples of a Nilgiri langur, and Sanger’s sequencing method was used to amplify a 330-bp fragment of the mitochondrial Cyt b gene. We compared our sequences with other Indian langurs obtained from the GenBank database. A maximum likelihood (ML) tree was constructed to understand the phylogenetic relationships. The phylogenetic analysis revealed multiple clusters of the species. Therefore, conservation efforts must prioritize protecting genetically endangered populations of the Nilgiri langur to prevent the loss of unique populations across its distribution range.