Assam macaque

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File:Assam macaque (Macaca assamensis pelops) male head Nagarjun.jpg
M. a. pelops in Nagarjun Forest, Kathmandu, Nepal

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.[1]

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 Template:Convert, and the tail is Template:Convert long. Adult weight is Template:Convert.[2]

Distribution and habitat

File:Assam-Makak 1670-2.jpg
Assam macaques in Shanghai Zoo

In Nepal, the Assam macaque occurs east of the Kali Gandaki river at elevations of Template:Cvt.[3] In northeastern India, it lives in tropical and subtropical semievergreen forests, dry deciduous and montane forests up to elevations of Template:Cvt.[4] In Laos and Vietnam, it prefers elevations above Template:Cvt. It usually inhabits hilly areas above Template:Cvt, but in the wetter east it also occurs in the lowlands below this elevation. In limestone karst forests, it also occurs at lower elevations.[1]

Ecology and behaviour

Assam macaques are diurnal, and at times both arboreal and terrestrial. They are omnivorous and feed on fruits, leaves, invertebrates and cereals.[1] 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 Template:Convert, and an average group size of 13.93 individuals.[5] 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 Template:Convert. 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.[6]

Threats

The threats to this species' habitat include selective logging and various forms of anthropogenic development and activities, alien invasives, hunting and trapping for sport, medicine, food, and the pet trade. Additionally, hybridization with adjacent species poses a threat to some populations.[7]

Conservation

Macaca assamensis is listed in CITES Appendix II. It is legally protected in all countries of occurrence. For the populations in India, the species is listed under Schedule II, part I of the Indian Wildlife Act.[5]

References

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External links

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  1. ↑ a b c Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named iucn
  2. ↑ Françis, C. M. (2008) A field guide to the mammals of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers. Template:ISBN
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1". Template:Webarchive
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ Regmi, G. R., Kandel, K. (2008). Population Status, Threats and Conservation Measures of Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis) in Langtang National Park, Nepal Template:Webarchive. A final report submitted to Primate Society of Great Britain, UK.
  7. ↑ 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 Template:Webarchive. Workshop Report, 2003. Zoo Outreach Organization/CBSG-South Asia, Coimbatore, India.
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