Rhesus Macaque
Recently, the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) has recommended reinstating Rhesus Macaque species of monkeys under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
About Rhesus Macaque
The Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) is a highly social and adaptable Old World monkey native to a wide range across South, Central, and Southeast Asia. Known for their intelligence and physiological similarities to humans, they have been extensively used in medical research, contributing to breakthroughs like the polio and rabies vaccines and the discovery of the Rh blood factor.
Physical Characteristics
- Appearance: They are generally brown or grey in color with a distinctive pink, hairless face.
- Size: Males average about 53 cm (21 in) in length and weigh around 7.7 kg (17 lb), while females are smaller, averaging 47 cm (19 in) and 5.3 kg (12 lb).
- Tail: They have a medium-length tail, averaging 20.7–22.9 cm (8.1–9.0 in).
- Adaptations: Rhesus macaques have specialized, pouch-like cheeks that allow them to store food temporarily while foraging. They are also strong swimmers.
Habitat and Diet
Rhesus macaques have the widest geographic range of any non-human primate, inhabiting diverse environments from arid plains and grasslands to mountainous regions up to 3,000 meters (10,000 ft). They adapt well to human-dominated landscapes, including agricultural areas and dense urban centers.
They are omnivorous, with a diet that primarily includes:
- Natural foods: Fruits, seeds, roots, buds, bark, leaves, and various invertebrates like insects, spiders, and crabs.
- Human-associated foods: In areas near human settlements, their diet often shifts to include cultivated crops, human food, and trash.
Behavior and Social Structure
- Social Life: They are highly social, diurnal (active during the day) animals that live in large groups called "troops," which can range from 20 to over 200 individuals.
- Hierarchy: Troops have a strict, linear dominance hierarchy for both males and females. The social structure is matrilineal, with females remaining in their natal groups and their rank often determined by their mother's rank. Males typically leave their birth groups upon reaching sexual maturity and join new troops, where their rank is more flexible.
- Communication: They use a variety of communication methods, including complex facial expressions (such as the "silent bared teeth" face for submission), body postures, gestures, and vocalizations (coos, grunts, barks, screeches).
- Reproduction: Mating is generally promiscuous, occurring with multiple partners during the breeding season. After a gestation period of around 165 days, females typically give birth to a single offspring. Mothers provide the majority of parental care, though other females may assist.
Conservation Status
The rhesus macaque is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution and adaptability. However, in some localized areas, populations may be threatened by habitat destruction, human-macaque conflict, and the genetic risks of introduced populations.
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