Photo of Hanuman Langur Monkey

-- The Hanuman Langur monkey got its name from the Hindu monkey-god who, according to legend, fought to rescue a woman and to escape was forced to burn down the village. The black hands and faces of these langurs are thought to be the result of the fire the monkey-god was trapped in. Because of this legend, the Hanuman Langur is the sacred monkey of India and therefore not preyed upon by humans. They have even been spotted raiding markets and farms and leaving unharmed with their bounty. The Hanuman langur can live for up to 20 years, and, because of their high status in Indian culture, are virtually fearless. Their tails can be up to three feet long and are used as balancing rods for swinging in the trees. There are 15 subspecies of langurs.