Macaca
Sign in to saveThe macaques () constitute a genus (Macaca) of gregarious Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. The 23 species of macaques inhabit ranges throughout Asia, North Africa, and Europe (in Gibraltar). Macaques are principally frugivorous (preferring fruit), although their diet also includes seeds, leaves, flowers, and tree bark. Some species such as the long-tailed macaque (M. fascicularis; also called the crab-eating macaque) will supplement their diets with small amounts of meat from shellfish, insects, and small mammals. On average, a southern pig-tailed macaque (M. nemestrina) in
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Macaques are a genus of social monkeys found across Asia, North Africa, and Gibraltar, comprising 23 species that primarily eat fruit along with seeds, leaves, flowers, and tree bark. They matter because they represent a significant and diverse group of primates with varied diets and widespread geographic distribution, making them important for understanding Old World monkey evolution and behavior.
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Taxonomy · GBIF
GENUS
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassMammalia
- OrderPrimates
- FamilyCercopithecidae
via GBIF · CC0
Article
16 sectionsContents
- Description
- Distribution and habitat
- Ecology and behavior
- Diet
- Group structure
- Reproduction and mortality
- As invasive species
- Relations with humans
- Population control
- Cloning
- Species
- Prehistoric (fossil) species
- See also
- References
- Sources
- External links
The macaques () constitute a genus (Macaca) of gregarious Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. The 23 species of macaques inhabit ranges throughout Asia, North Africa, and Europe (in Gibraltar). Macaques are principally frugivorous (preferring fruit), although their diet also includes seeds, leaves, flowers, and tree bark. Some species such as the long-tailed macaque (M. fascicularis; also called the crab-eating macaque) will supplement their diets with small amounts of meat from shellfish, insects, and small mammals. On average, a southern pig-tailed macaque (M. nemestrina) in Malaysia eats about 70 large rats each year. All macaque social groups are arranged around dominant matriarchs.
Macaques are found in a variety of habitats throughout the Asian continent and are highly adaptable. Certain species are synanthropic, having learned to live alongside humans, but they have become problematic in urban areas in Southeast Asia and are not suitable to live with, as they can carry transmittable diseases.