On the geographical distribution of primates in China

Abstract

This paper deals with the geographical distribution of primates in relation to environmental conditions and threatening factors in different zoogeographical regions. South China region: most species of primates inhabit the tropical forest stretching along the southern border of the country. Habitat destruction have caused Nycticebus coucang, Pygathrix nemaeus, Presbytis spp. and Hylobates spp. to be threatened with extinction. Through intensive exploitation Macaca spp. have been reduced to some secondary forest areas. South-west China region: Presbytis entellus inhabits the area below the moist temperature belt in the southern flank of the Himalayas. Tupaia glis live at 2000 m elevation in evergreen broadleaf forests. Some of the Macaca spp. population are forced to live at even higher elevations, over 3000 m, due to deforestation. Rhinopithecus roxellanae bieti still remains in Yunnan. Central China region: Macaca mulatta and M. speciosa have disappeared in most parts of this region except for some isolated groups occurring in the rugged mountains. R. r. roxellanae and R. r. brelichi exist under protection, the latter being one of the most endangered mammals in China. North China region: there are only two small relict populations of M. mulatta in Shansi and Hopei reaching as far as lat. 41°N. It once had a wide distribution in northern China as indicated in the historical literature.