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Order : PRIMATES
Family : Cercopithecidae
Species : Macaca arctoides
Head-body length : 48-63 cm
Weight : 8-12 kg
The Stump-tailed Macaque occurs in a variety of
habitats on mainland Southeast Asia, including primary or secondary forest,
degraded forest-edge and low scrub. It is restricted to hilly or montane
areas, up to 2000 metres elevation.
This macaque spends most of its time on the ground, but it can climb trees when required.
It is mainly a fruit eater, but it will also consume other parts of plants,
such as seeds and buds, supplemented by small invertebrates, such as insects
and more rarely small vertebrates.
Its body form is stocky and muscular, rather like the
Northern Pig-tailed Macaque,
but in contrast its tail is reduced to a short stump of just a few
centimetres. Its fur is typically dark brown, but sometimes blackish. Adult
males typically have long, shaggy fur on the top and sides of the head. The skin
on the face is devoid of fur and is reddish in colour. Infants have sparse,
but long, white fur.
Large troupes of this macaque, comprising many tens of individuals, may be
encountered. Their temperament may be unpredictable: typically they will
flee from confrontation with humans, but at other times may be emboldened
and aggressive.
The Stump-tailed Macaque occurs in hilly and mountainous areas of northern
India (Assam), northern Myanmar, southern China, western and southern
Thailand, extreme northern Peninsular Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Fig 1 : Young adult with medium brown fur, and typical reddish face, caught
on camera trap.
Fig 2 : An adult strides purposefully through habitat comprising a mosaic of
young trees, and rough grassland at Virachey National Park, Cambodia.
Fig 3 : Adult female at Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand.
Fig 4 : The short, stumpy tail is visible in this image of a sub-adult. Note
the bulging cheek pouch.
Fig 5 : A pink-skinned infant with white fur suckles from its mother.
Images 1 and 2 from Virachey National Park, Cambodia, thanks to Greg McCann.
Images 3 to 5 from Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand thanks to Charles
Currin.
References :
Francis, C.M. 2019. A Field Guide to the Mammals of South-east Asia. Second
Edition. New Holland. 416 pp.
Lekagul, B., McNeely, J., 1977. Mammals of Thailand. Association for the
Conservation of Wildlife, Thailand. 758 pp.
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