Macaques

Source: IE

Subject: Species in News

Context: The story of Punch, a baby Japanese macaque abandoned by its mother and comforted by a stuffed toy at a Japanese zoo, has gone viral, highlighting the complex social hierarchies.

About Macaques:

What it is?

• Macaques are a genus of gregarious Old World monkeys belonging to the family Cercopithecidae. There are more than 20 species, making them one of the most widespread and diverse primate groups.

Types of Macaques:

• Japanese Macaque (*M. fuscata*): Also known as Snow Monkeys, famous for living in cold climates and soaking in hot springs.

• Rhesus Macaque (*M. mulatta*): Native to North India and Southeast Asia; widely known in medical research.

• Lion-tailed Macaque (*M. silenus*): An endangered species found only in the Western Ghats of Southern India, recognized by its silver mane.

• Crested Black Macaque (*M. nigra*): A distinctive species found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

• Barbary Macaque (*M. sylvanus*): The only species found outside of Asia, inhabiting North Africa (and Gibraltar).

Origin and Habitat:

• While most species are native to Asia, their habitats vary significantly. They are highly adaptable and can be found in tropical rainforests, high-altitude mountains, rocky cliffs, and even urban plains.

Key Characteristics:

• Physical Build: They are robust primates with arms and legs of roughly equal length.

• Facial Features: They possess dog-like but rounded muzzles with nostrils on the upper surface.

• Cheek Pouches: Unique large pouches allow them to carry and store extra food while foraging.

• Tails: Variation is extreme; depending on the species, tails can be long, short, or even absent.

• Size: Males are significantly larger than females, with the Tibetan macaque being the largest (up to 18 kg).

Social Behaviour:

• Complex Hierarchies: Macaques live in troops with a strict dominance rank order. In females, this is matrilineal (based on the mother’s rank), while male rank is often determined by alliances and fighting ability.

• In females, this is matrilineal (based on the mother’s rank), while male rank is often determined by alliances and fighting ability.

• The Youngest Sister Rule: In some species, like the Japanese macaque, the youngest sister often ranks higher than her older siblings.

• Integration and Bullying: High-ranked members often show aggression toward lower-ranked individuals to reinforce status. New or rejected members (like Punch) undergo a testing phase before finding their place.

• New or rejected members (like Punch) undergo a testing phase before finding their place.

• Emotional Regulation: Unlike herd animals (goats/deer), young macaques rely heavily on physical touch from their mothers for comfort. This explains why an abandoned baby may cling to a surrogate object, like a stuffed toy, for emotional stability.

• This explains why an abandoned baby may cling to a surrogate object, like a stuffed toy, for emotional stability.