Assam macaque
Assam macaque | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Primates |
Suborder: | Haplorhini |
Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
Family: | Cercopithecidae |
Genus: | Macaca |
Species: | M. assamensis[1]
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Binomial name | |
Macaca assamensis[1] McClelland, 1840
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Assam macaque range |
The Assam macaque (Macaca assamensis) or Assamese macaque is a macaque of the Old World monkey family native to South and Southeast Asia. Since 2008, it has been listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, as it is experiencing significant declines due to poaching, habitat degradation, and fragmentation.[2]
Characteristics
The Assam macaque has a yellowish-grey to dark brown pelage. The facial skin is dark brownish to purplish. The head has a dark fringe of hair on the cheeks directed backwards to the ears. The hair on the crown is parted in the middle. The shoulders, head and arms tend to be paler than the hindquarters, which are greyish. The tail is well-haired and short. Head-to-body-length measures 51 to 73.5 cm (20.1 to 28.9 in), and the tail is 15 to 30 cm (5.9 to 11.8 in) long. Adult weight is 5 to 10 kg (11 to 22 lb).[3]
Distribution and habitat
In Nepal, the Assam macaque occurs east of the
Ecology and behaviour
Assam macaques are
In Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, 15 groups were recorded in 2002 comprising 209 individuals. The population had a group density of 1.11 individuals per 1 km2 (0.39 sq mi), and an average group size of 13.93 individuals.[6] During a survey in Nepal's Langtang National Park in 2007, a total of 213 Assamese macaques were encountered in 9 groups in the study area of 113 km2 (44 sq mi). Troop sizes varied between 13 and 35 individuals, with a mean troop size of 23.66 individuals, and comprised 31% adult females, 16% adult males, and their young of various ages. They preferred maize kernals, followed by potato tubers, but also raided fields with wheat, buckwheat, and millet.[7]Threats
The threats to this species' habitat include selective
Conservation
Macaca assamensis is listed in
References
- OCLC 62265494.
- ^ . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ISBN 1-84537-735-4
- PMID 15378425.
- ^ Srivastava, A. & Mohnot, S. M. (2001). "Distribution, conservation status and priorities for primates in Northeast India" (PDF). ENVIS Bulletin: Wildlife and Protected Areas. 1 (1): 102–108. Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Chetry, D., Medhi, R., Biswas, J., Das, D. and Bhattacharjee, P. C. (2003). Nonhuman primates in the Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India. International Journal of Primatology 24(2): 383–388.
- ^ Regmi, G. R., Kandel, K. (2008). Population Status, Threats and Conservation Measures of Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis) in Langtang National Park, Nepal Archived 2017-04-22 at the Wayback Machine. A final report submitted to Primate Society of Great Britain, UK.
- ^ Molur, S., Brandon-Jones, D., Dittus, W., Eudey, A., Kumar, A., Singh, M., Feeroz, M. M., Chalise, M., Priya, P. and Walker, S. (2003). Status of South Asian Primates: Conservation Assessment and Management Plan Report Archived 2016-12-21 at the Wayback Machine. Workshop Report, 2003. Zoo Outreach Organization/CBSG-South Asia, Coimbatore, India.