Macaque

Macaque, common name for certain monkeys that live in a great variety of habitats, primarily in Asia. The macaque known as the rhesus monkey, much used in medical research, is found throughout India and into northeastern China, Indochina, and Nepal. The crab-eating macaque lives in mangrove swamps, forests, and urban areas in southeastern Asia. The northernmost species, the Japanese macaque, lives in Japan. The Barbary ape lives in Gibraltar and North Africa and is the only wild monkey in Europe.

Macaques are hardy, intelligent primates with stout bodies about 37 to 76 cm (about 15 to 30 in) long and short, powerful limbs. Over each eye they have a prominent ridge; the muzzle is doglike. The animals have cheek pouches into which they can cram a great deal of food; they are omnivorous. Each buttock bears a large, bare, callus patch. The tail varies in different species from no visible tail to one that is about the length of the body. Macaques live in troops of varying sizes, in which both males and females have dominance orders. Ranking females benefit from easier access to food and water, space, and grooming partners. Various members of the troop may assist in settling quarrels and watching for enemies. When females are busy with newborns, the males take charge of yearlings.

Scientific classification: Macaques belong to the family Cercopithecidae. The rhesus monkey is classified as Macaca mulatta, the crab-eating macaque as Macaca fascicularis, the Japanese macaque as Macaca fuscata, and the Barbary ape as Macaca sylvanus.