Lion-tailed macaque
Lion-tailed macaque | |
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Male at Bristol Zoo | |
Female at Singapore Zoo | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Primates |
Suborder: | Haplorhini |
Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
Family: | Cercopithecidae |
Genus: | Macaca |
Species: | M. silenus[1]
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Binomial name | |
Macaca silenus[1] | |
Lion-tailed macaque range | |
Synonyms | |
The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), also known as the wanderoo, is an Old World monkey endemic to the Western Ghats of South India.
Characteristics
Lion-tailed macaques are covered in black fur, and have a striking gray or silver mane that surrounds their face which can be found in both sexes. The face itself is hairless and black, being pinkish in infants less than a year old. They are named not for their mane, but for their tail, which is long, thin, and naked, with a lion-like, black tail tuft at the tip. The size of their tail is about 25 cm (9.8 in) in length. Their eyes are a shade of hazelnut with highlighting black eyelids. Lion-tailed macaques, like other macaques, have deep cheek pouches useful for storing food, and are quadrupedal with opposable digits. The mane that surrounds its face gives this monkey its German name Bartaffe – "beard ape". With a head-body length of 42–61 cm (17–24 in) and a weight of 2–10 kg (4.4–22.0 lb), it ranks among the smaller macaques species. Offspring are born with lighter faces and no mane, with the adult mane growing in after two months after birth.[4]
Behavior and ecology
The lion-tailed macaque is a rainforest dweller, often being found in the upper canopy of
Lion-tailed macaque behavior is characterized by typical patterns of
Gestation lasts approximately six months. The young are nursed for one year. Sexual maturity is reached at four years for females, and six years for males. The life expectancy in the wild is approximately 20 years, while in captivity is up to 30 years.[7]
Threats
While lion-tailed macaques are preyed on by snakes, raptors, and large carnivores, the impact of natural predators on population size does not compare to their largest threat. The largest threat to the lion-tailed macaque is habitat fragmentation due to large amounts of timber harvesting and exotic plantations, such as tea and coffee.[2] This fragmentation leads to many issues that the lion-tailed macaques are facing. They are struggling to find food, being hit by cars, and being electrocuted by power lines.[4] Due to their low numbers and high levels of fragmentation, they are also highly susceptible to inbreeding, which can cause many genetic issues.[8] Their second largest threat is from humans hunting and trapping them for meat, especially within areas that have primates as their preferred food. There are also many human-primate conflicts occurring now due to macaques venturing out of their forests to find food.
Conservation and population
An assessment in 2003 for
From 1977 to 1980, public concern about the endanged status of lion-tailed macaque became the focal point of
A self-sustainable single population of 32 groups of lion-tailed macaques occurred in
See also
- Rhesus macaque
- Gray langur
- Old World monkey
References
- OCLC 62265494.
- ^ a b c Singh, M.; Kumar, A. & Kumara, H.N. (2020). "Macaca silenus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T12559A17951402. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ Linne, C. (1758). "Simia silenius". Systema naturæ. Regnum animale. Vol. I (Tenth ed.). Lipsiæ: Sumptibus Guilielmi Engelmann. p. 26.
- ^ a b c d e f "Lion-Tailed Macaque | New England Primate Conservancy". 11 December 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ a b Singh, Mewa & Kaumanns, Werner (10 October 2005). "Behavioural studies: A necessity for wildlife management" (PDF). Current Science. 89 (7): 1233.
- ^ Balakrishnan, Peroth (24 December 2010). "Predation of eggs and nestlings of pigeons (Columbidae) by the lion-tailed macaque Macaca silenus in the Western Ghats, India" (PDF). Indian Birds. 6 (6): 167–168.
- ^ a b "Lion-tailed Macaque". World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), Virtual Zoo. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2007.
- ^ Strawder, Nicole. "Macaca silenus (liontail macaque)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ Molur S, D Brandon-Jones, W Dittus, A. Eudey, A. Kumar, M. Singh, M.M. Feeroz, M. Chalise, P. Priya & S. Walker (2003). Status of South Asian Primates: Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (C.A.M.P.) Workshop Report, 2003. Zoo Outreach Organization/CBSG-South Asia, Coimbatore
- ^ Ramachandran, K. K. & Joseph, Gigi K. (2001). "Distribution and demography of diurnal primates in Silent Valley National Park and adjacent areas, Kerala, India". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 98 (2): 191–196.
- S2CID 30384142.
- ^ "Nilgiri Tahr, lion-tailed macaque sighted in Theni district". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 9 May 2007. Archived from the original on 27 June 2007.
- ^ "'The right thing': Heartbroken zoo keepers euthanase nation's last lion-tailed macaque". www.abc.net.au. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
External links
- ARKive – Images and movies of the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus)
- Nature inFocus – Lion-tailed Macaquesone (LTM) - Things to know about one of the most unique primate species of the Indian subcontinent.
- The Knights of the Forest – Photo-essay of the lion-tailed macaque
- Documentary Film – A Call in the Rainforest
- Video of Lion-tailed Macaque – Save Earth Series – Lion-tailed Macaque
- Lion-tailed Macaques slap the Indian giant squirrel and steal their food – BBC Earth YouTube channel