MACAQUE SPECIES

Tibetan macaque

There are 20 species of macaque in five species groups. Many have monkey in their name rather than macaque. There is a debate among scientists as to which macaques are true species and which are not. Many species are capable of breeding with other species and their offspring are fertile. In some place they do interbreed, producing hybrids and crossbreeds.

Well known macaque species include Japanese snow monkeys, rhesus monkeys in India, the Barbary Ape of southern Spain, the Celebes ape of Sulawesi, the crab-eating macaque of Southeast Asia, the liontail macaque of India, the pigtail macaque of Southeast Asia, the toque macaque of Sri Lanka, and the bonnet macaque of India.

Eight species live on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi or the islands around it. There is some debate though as to whether they are really different species. Six species of macaque live in India.

Some species are endangered due to logging, deforestation, loss of habitat, killing as pests and food, and capture for pets and research. The Mentawai macaque is critically endangered. The lion-tailed macaque and Sulawesi black macaque are endangered. In south India, the meat of the lion-tailed macaque is believed to be an aphrodisiac and have other medicinal qualities. In China macaque flesh is taken as a malaria treatment and a cure for lassitude

Macaques in North Africa, Japan and Tibet

Barbary Macaques are brown in color. Their scientific name is M. sylvanus (Linnaeus, 1758). They are native to Northwestern Africa and also live in Gibralter. They are 45–60 centimeters (18–24 inches) long, plus 1–2 centimeter (0–1 inch) tail. They live in the forest, shrubland, grassland, rocky areas, and caves and eat plants, caterpillars, fruit, seeds, roots, and fungi. They are endangered. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining. [Source: Wikipedia]

Japanese Macaques are mainly brown in color. Their scientific name is M. fuscata (Blyth, 1875). There are two subspecies: M. f. fuscata and is M. f. yakui (Yakushima macaque). They are native to Japan. They are 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 1–15 centimeter (0–6 inch) tail. They live in the forest and eat fruit, seeds, flowers, nectar, leaves, and fungi]. They are a least concern species. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is steady.

Tibetan Macaques live in eastern China and Tibet. Their scientific name is M. thibetana (A. Milne-Edwards, 1870). There are four subspecies: 1) M. t. esau; 2) M. t. guiahouensis; 3) M. t. huangshanensis and 4) M. t. thibetana. They are 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 1–15 centimeter (0–6 inch) tail. They live in the forest and caves and eat fruit, as well as flowers, berries, seeds, leaves, stems, stalks, and invertebrates. They are near-threatened. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining.

Macaques in India and South Asia

Toque Macaques are mainly brown in color. Their scientific name is M. sinica (Linnaeus, 1771). There are three subspecies: M. s. aurifrons (Pale-fronted toque macaque); M. s. opisthomelas (Highland toque macaque); and M. s. sinica (Common toque macaque). They are native to Sri Lanka. They are 36–53 centimeters (14–21 inches) long, with a 36–53 centimeter (14–21 inch) tail. They live in the forest and eat fruit as well as tree flowers, buds, and leaves. They are endangered. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining. [Source: Wikipedia]

Arunachal Macaques are mainly brown in color. Their scientific name is M. munzala. They are native to the Eastern Himalayas. They are 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 9–20 centimeter (4–8 inch) tail. They live in the forest and eat fruit, leaves, grains, buds, seeds, flowers, and bark, as well as insects and small invertebrates. They are endangered. Their numbers are around 250. Their population is declining.

lion-tailed macaque

Assam Macaques are mainly brown in color. Their scientific name is M. assamensis (McClelland, 1840). There are two subspecies: M. a. assamensis (Eastern Assamese macaque) and M. a. pelops (Western Assamese macaque). They are native to Southeastern Asia. They are 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 9–20 centimeter (4–8 inch) tail. They live in the forest and eat fruit, leaves, grains, buds, seeds, flowers, and bark, as well as insects and small invertebrates. They are near-threatened. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining.

Bonnet Macaques are brown in color. Their scientific name is M. radiata (Geoffroy, 1812). There are two subspecies: M. r. diluta and is M. r. radiata. They are native to Southern India. They are 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 9–20 centimeter (4–8 inch) tail. They live in the forest, savanna, and shrubland and eat fruit, foliage, and insects, as well as bird eggs and lizards. They are vulnerable. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining.

Lion-Tailed Macaques are blackish gray and brown in color. Their scientific name is M. silenus (Linnaeus, 1758). They are native to Southwestern India. They are 40–61 centimeters (16–24 inches) long, with 24–38 centimeter (9–15 inch) tail. They live in the forest and eat fruit, as well as leaves, stems, flowers, buds, fungi, insects, lizards, tree frogs, and small mammals. They are endangered. There are estimated to be around 2,400–2,500 of them. Their population is declining.

Rhesus Macaques brown in color. Their scientific name is M. mulatta (Zimmermann, 1790). They are native to southern and southeastern Asia. They are 45–64 centimeters (18–25 inches) long, with a 19–32 centimeter (7–13 inch) tail. They live in the forest, savanna, and shrubland and eat Fish, crabs, shellfish, bird eggs, honeycombs, crayfish, crabs, spiders, plants, gums and pith. They are a least concern species. Their numbers are unknown.

White-Cheeked Macaques live in northeastern India. Their scientific name is M. leucogenys (Li, Zhao, Fan, 2015). They 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 9–20 centimeter (4–8 inch) tail. They live in the forest and eat fruit, leaves, grains, buds, seeds, flowers, and bark, as well as insects and small invertebrates. They are endangered. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining.

Macaques in Southeast Asia

Crab-Eating Macaques are mainly brown in color. Their scientific name is M. fascicularis (Raffles, 1821). There are ten subspecies. They are native to Southeastern Asia. They are 40–47 centimeters (16–19 inches) long, with a 50–60 centimeter (20–24 inch) tail. They live in the forest, intertidal marine, caves, inland wetlands, grassland, shrubland, and savanna and eat fruit, crabs, flowers, insects, leaves, fungi, grasses, and clay. They are endangered. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining.

Formosan Rock Macaques are gray in color. Their scientific name is M. cyclopis (Swinhoe, 1862). They are native toTaiwan. They are 36–45 centimeters (14–18 inches) long, with a 26–46 centimeter (10–18 inch) tail. They live in the forest and eat fruit, leaves, berries, seeds, insects, and small vertebrates, buds, and shoots. They are a least concern species. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is steady

Northern Pig-Tailed Macaques are gray in color. Their scientific name is M. leonina (Blyth, 1863). They are native to Southeastern Asia. They are 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 9–20 centimeter (4–8 inch) tail. They live in the forest and eat Leaves, seeds, stems, roots, flowers, bamboo shoots, rice, gums, insects, larvae, termite eggs and spiders. They are vulnerable. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining.

Southern Pig-Tailed Macaques are mainly brown in color. Their scientific name is M. nemestrina (Linnaeus, 1766). They are native to Southeastern Asia. They are 46–57 centimeters (18–22 inches) long, with a 13–26 centimeter (5–10 inch) tail. They live in the forest and shrubland and eat fruit, insects, seeds, leaves, dirt, and fungus, as well as birds, termite eggs and larvae, and river crabs. They are endangered. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining.

Stump-Tailed Macaques are reddish brown in color. Their scientific name is M. arctoides (I. Geoffroy, 1831). They are native to Southeastern Asia. They are 48–65 centimeters (19–26 inches) long, with a 3–7 centimeter (1–3 inch) tail. They live the forest and eat fruit, seeds, flowers, roots, leaves, frogs, crabs, birds, and bird eggs. They are vulnerable. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining.

Macaques in Indonesia

Moor macaque from Sulawesi

Pagai Island Macaques are mainly brown in color. Their scientific name is M. pagensis (G. S. Miller, 1903). They are native to the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia. They are 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 9–20 centimeters (4–8 inch) tail. They live in the forest and eat fruit, leaves, grains, buds, seeds, flowers, and bark, as well as insects and small invertebrates. They are critically endangered. There are around 2,100–3,700 of them. Their population is declining.

Macaques in Sulawesi

Booted Macaques are gray monkeys. Their scientific name is M. ochreata (Ogilby, 1841). They are native to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. They are 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 1–15 centimeter (0–6 inch) tail. They live in the forest and savanna and eat fruit, leaves, grains, buds, seeds, flowers, and bark, as well as insects and small invertebrates. They are vulnerable. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining. [Source: Wikipedia]

Celebes Crested Macaques are mainly black. Their scientific name is M. nigra (Desmarest, 1822). They are native to the island of Sulawesi. They are 44–57 centimeters (17–22 inches) long, with a 2 centimeter (1 inch) tail. They live in the forest and eat fruit, as well as insects, shoots, leaves, and stems. They are critically endangered. Their numbers are unknown. Their population declining

Gorontalo Macaques are black and white in color. Their scientific name is M. nigrescens (Temminck, 1849). They are native to the island of Sulawesi. They are 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 1–15 centimeter (0–6 inch) tail. They live in the forest and eat fruit, leaves, grains, buds, seeds, flowers, and bark, as well as insects and small invertebrates.They are vulnerable. Their numbers are unknown. Their Population is declining.

Heck's Macaques are gray in color. Their scientific name is M. hecki (Matschie, 1901). They are native to the Island of Sulawesi. They are 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 1–15 centimeters (0–6 inch) tail. They live in the forest and grassland and eat fruit, leaves, grains, buds, seeds, flowers, and bark, as well as insects and small invertebrates. They are vulnerable. There are estimated to be around 100,000 of them. Their population is declining.

Moor Macaques are gray monkeys. Their scientific name is M. maura (Schinz, 1825). They are native to the island of Sulawesi. They are 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 1–15 centimeter (0–6 inch) tail. They live in the forest and grassland and eat fruit, leaves, grains, buds, seeds, flowers, and bark, as well as insects and small invertebrates. They are endangered. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining.

Muna-Buton Macaque live on Sulawesi. Their scientific name is M. brunnescens (Matschie, 1901). They are 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 1–15 centimeter (0–6 inch) tail. They live in the forest and eat fruit, leaves, grains, buds, seeds, flowers, and bark, as well as insects and small invertebrates. They are vulnerable. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining.

Tonkean Macaques are of gray monkeys. Their scientific name is M. tonkeana (von Meyer, 1899). They are native to the island of Sulawesi. They are 36–77 centimeters (14–30 inches) long, with a 1–15 centimeter (0–6 inch) tail. They live in the forest and eat fruit, leaves, grains, buds, seeds, flowers, and bark, as well as insects and small invertebrates. They are vulnerable. Their numbers are unknown. Their population is declining.

Celebes Crested Macaque

Celebes crested macaques (Macaca nigra) are one of the eight species of macaque endemic to the island of Sulawesi (Celebes) in Indonesia. They are now restricted to northeast Sulawesi and the adjacent islands of Pulau Manadotua and Pulau Talise. They were once found on Pulai Lembeh but are no longer are. An introduced population of at least 100,000 individuals resides on Pulau Bacan, in the Maluku Islands.[Source: Rae Ellen Bichell, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Celebes crested macaques are popular zoo animals in part because they have interesting, human-like facial expressions. They are also known as black crested macaques, crested black macaques, Sulawesi black macaquse, Sulawesi macaques, and incorrectly as Celebes black apes. Among the species of macaques of Sulawesi, Celebes crested macaques are difficult to distinguish from Gorontalo macaques (Macaca nigrescens). Both have black skin and fur, but the upper half of the body of Celebes crested macaques is darker and more dull. Hybrids of Celebes crested macaques and Gorontalo macaques have been recorded. /=\

Celebes crested macaques are island endemic (live only on an island or set of islands). Their average lifespan in the wild is 18 years. They have lived up to 34 years on captivity and occupy in many protected areas including Gunung Lokon, Gunung Amban, Tangkoko Batuangus, Dua Saudara, and Batu Putih.

Celebes crested macaques live in tropical areas at elevations of 700 to 1100 meters (2297 to 3609 feet), most likely determined by fruit abundance. These areas have relatively constant temperatures, although there are fluctuations in rainfall between dry and wet seasons. These macaques prefer humid, tropical lowland and upland rainforests, but they are also known to frequent agricultural areas that have encroached on their habitat.

Pig Tailed Macaques

Pig-tailed macaques are relatively large monkeys native to Southeast Asia. Males can measure up to 65 centimeters (two feet) from the buttocks to the top of the head and weigh up to 18 kilograms (40 pounds). When threatened they screech and bare their canines. The buttocks of females become swollen and red when they are receptive to mating.

Pig-tailed macaques are regarded as "clever, political animals" with "good mother-infant bonding and particularly strong peer interaction and play." Their thick fur protects them from bees and stinging ants. In some parts of Malaysia, pig-tailed macaques are used to pick coconuts.

Pigtail macaques are widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia and found in Assam and northeast India, Yunnan and souther China, Borneo, Kalimantan, Sumatra in Indonesia, eastern Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia and Bangka, and neighboring islands. Pigtail macaques have been introduced in Singapore and the Natuna Islands. [Source: Kayla Ayers and Candace Vanderpoel, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Pigtail macaques mainly live in tropical areas in rain forests and swamps from sea level to more than 2000 meters (feet). They prefer dense, humid rainforest with temperatures ranging from 18 to 30 degrees Celsius (64 to 86 Fahrenheit). They tend to live in places with a rainy season and slight temperatures variations according to the seasons and regions. Rainforests they inhabit get as much as 250 centimeters (8.2 feet) of rain each year.

Crab-Eating Macaques

Crab-eating macaques(Macaca fascicularis) are also called long-tailed macaques, cynomolgus or Java monkeys. Most don’t live by the sea, preferring trees instead . Those that do have access to the sea feed on crabs, other crustaceans and other animals exposed by low tide. They are usually unsuccessful in efforts to chase crabs but are able to catch them when the they wait at the crab’s hole and grab when it emerges to take a look. These monkeys have been observed getting pinched by a crab and frantically flapping their hands in the air. There are also inland A crab-eating macaque at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud, a Balinese town in Indonesia.

Crab-eating macaques are found in southeast Asia from Myanmar (Burma) to the Philippines and southward through southern Thailand, Cambodia, southern Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and as far east as the Timor Islands. They are regarded as the most arboreal (tree living) of all macaque species. You can find them in tropical areas and areas with an extended dry season in primary rainforests, scrub forests, disturbed and secondary forests, and riverine and coastal forests of nipa palm. One study of crab-eating macaque behavior reported that they never came to the ground except within five meters of the edge of a river near their tree. They also live in coastal areas, near brackish water and in mangroves and swamps, agricultural areas and areas near rivers. [Source: Christopher Bonadio, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Rhesus Monkeys

Rhesus monkeys (Scientific Name: Macaca mulatta) are a kind of macaque native to northern India and Pakistan but found throughout South Asua and Southeast Asia. Also known as Rhesus macaques, they can adapt to almost any environment. They streak through bazaars, walk through snow and are as comfortable in city streets as they are in the forest. They often live around temples and are regarded as sacred.

Populations of rhesus monkeys are most commonly found in a broad arc that stretches western Afghanistan, through India to northern Thailand. This species was wll represented in the past in southern China and Tibet, but humans have caused their decline over the past century or so. Because rhesus monkeys is often used for research, today populations are kept in captivity world wide. [Source: Joshua Seinfeld, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Rhesus monkeys are small-to-medium-size primates. They have grizzled-brown fur on their back and slightly lighter color fur on their front side. The hair is short on the head. The face and buttocks of adults are red. They range in weight from four to 12 kilograms (8.81 to 26.43 pounds) and range in length from 45 to 64 centimeters (17.72 to 25.20 inches). The tail adds an additional 19 to 32 centimeters to the total length.

Rhesus monkeys are a popular zoo animal because of its innate curiosity and active lifestyle. These monkeys are also used extensively for research. They are especially useful in biological, medicinal, and psychological research. Rhesus monkeys is most often used in psychological research when the emphasis is on perception, learning, or behavior. /=\

Rhesus monkeys are the commonest monkeys in India. They make up most of India’s 1.5 million monkeys. Rhesus monkeys live in matriarchal societies, with mothers ranking above their daughters (and supporting them in fights) until they are very old. There is also a hierarchy of matriarchal units that is determined by relations between dominant female in each group. The situation in which family members will come to the aid of a female or not are usually defined by the ranking of the adversary. Rankings are sometime dramatically altered when females are claimed by disease or predators.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: Animal Diversity Web animaldiversity.org ; National Geographic, Live Science, Natural History magazine, David Attenborough books, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Discover magazine, The New Yorker, Time, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Wikipedia, The Guardian, Top Secret Animal Attack Files website and various books and other publications.

Last updated December 2024