Diet and Feeding Behavior of Rhinopithecus brelichi at Yangaoping, Guizhou

A critical food resource for the endangered gray snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus brelichi) in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, China, is the buds of Magnolia sprengeri, particularly vital during winter. This study reveals that R. brelichi consumes 107 plant species across 28 families, showcasing a diverse diet adapted to seasonal changes—prioritizing young leaves and flowers in spring, unripe fruits/seeds in summer, ripe fruits/seeds in autumn, and mature leaves/buds in winter. The research highlights the species' ecological adaptability but underscores threats from human collection of M. sprengeri for traditional medicine, advocating community-led conservation efforts to protect this resource.

XIANG, Z.-F., LIANG, W.-B., NIE, S.-G., & LI, M. (2012). Diet and Feeding Behavior of Rhinopithecus brelichi at Yangaoping, Guizhou. American Journal of Primatology, 74(6), 551–560. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22008