Macaca fascicularis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Macaca
Species: M. fascicularis
subspecies: Philippine Long-tailed Macaque, Macaca
fascicularis philippinensis
Binomial name
Macaca fascicularis
_The Crab-eating Macaque (Macaca fascicularis)
is a primarily arboreal macaque native to Southeast Asia. It is also called the
Cynomolgus Monkey and the Long-tailed Macaque.
_Macaca fascicularis has been used extensively
in medical experiments, in particular those connected with neuroscience. It has
also been identified as a possible vector for Ebola virus, monkeypox and is a
known carrier of B-virus (Herpesvirus simiae).
_Being "ecologically diverse", the Crab-eating
Macaque is found in a wide variety of habitats, including primary lowland
rainforests, disturbed and secondary rainforests, and riverine and coastal
forests of nipa palm and mangrove. They also easily adjust to human settlements
and are considered sacred at some Hindu temples and on some small islands, while
a pest when around farms and villages. Typically it prefers disturbed habitats
and forest periphery. The native range of this species includes most of mainland
Southeast Asia, including the Malay Archipelago islands of Sumatra, Java, and
Borneo, the islands of the Philippines, and the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of
Bengal.
_Macaca fascicularis is an introduced alien
species in several locations, including Hong Kong, western New Guinea, Anggaur
Island in Palau, and Mauritius. Where they are non-native species --
particularly on island ecosystems whose species often evolved in isolation from
large predators -- M. fascicularis is a documented threat to many native
species. This fact has led the World Conservation Union (IUCN) to list M.
fascicularis as one of the "100 Worst Alien Invasive Species." Insofar as they
are present as an alien invasive on several islands, they have been labeled a
"weed" species and are yet another significant ecological threat to those
ecosystems and the species within them. It is important to note, however, that
M. fascicularis is not a biodiversity threat in their native range, as other
species therein have adapted to their presence through evolutionary time.
_Macaca fascicularis is one of the types of
monkeys that have been used as space testflight animals.
Diet
_Although this species is often referred to as the
Crab-eating Macaque, this name is something of a misnomer since its diet is by
no means limited to crabs. Other food items are in fact far more common. They
are an opportunistic feeder omnivore, meaning they can and will eat a wide
variety of animals, plants, and other materials. Although fruits and seeds make
up 60 - 90% of the dietary intake, it also eats leaves, flowers, roots and bark.
It also preys on vertebrates (including bird chicks and nesting female birds,
lizards, frogs, fishes, et al.), invertebrates, and bird eggs. Although it is
ecologically well-adapted in its native range and poses no particular threat to
the overall populations of prey species, in areas where the Crab-eating Macaque
is non-native it can pose a substantial threat to biodiversity.
_The Long-tailed Macaque is sometimes known as
a "crop-raider", feeding in cultivated fields on such items as young dry rice,
cassava leaves, rubber fruit, taro plants, coconuts, mangos, and other crops,
thus often causing significant losses to the cash incomes of local farmers. It
also takes food from graveyards, garbage cans, and garbage pits. The species is
often unafraid of humans, and is found in many cities and villages. It has been
involved in aggressive interactions with people.
Description
_Batu Caves, MalaysiaMacaca fasicularis is a very
social animal that lives in groups anywhere from 5-60+ animals. These groups are
multi-male groups, normally containing 2-5 males and 2-3 times as many females.
The number of immatures is usually comparative to the number of females. Their
group size often depends on the level of predation and availability of food.
Their groups are female-centered, as the females are philopatric (i.e. remain in
one place across generations) and the males move in and out of these
female-based groups. Males generally first immigrate from their natal group at
the age of 4-6. They will remain in a a group up to 4 or 5 years and thus will
emigrate several times throughout their life. These monkeys are highly despotic
and have a strict dominance hierarchy. Adult males rank higher than females.
Female ranks are more stable than males, as males from time-to-time will be
defeated and lose rank. High-ranked males generally are more successful at
reproduction and high-ranked females generally fare better at raising surviving
offspring. The females are organized into matrilines, which are the female-based
families consisting of the resident females and their offspring. Matrilines are
ranked and some families have greater social power than others and this
difference in rank is maintained over several generations. Matrilineal
overthrows rarely occur and when they do they have severe consequences to the
reproductive success of the defeated matriline in the following year.
_After a gestation period of 167-193 days, the
female gives birth to one infant. The infant's weight at birth is approximately
350g. Infants are born with black fur and this fur will begin to turn to a
yellow-green, grey-green, or reddish-brown shade (depending on the sub-species)
after about 3 months of age. It is suggested this natal coat indicates to others
the status of the infant and other group members treat infants with care and
rush to their defense when distressed. Newly immigrated males will sometimes
commit infanticide on infants not their own, and high-ranked females sometimes
kidnap the infants of lower-rank females. These kidnapping usually result in the
fatality of the infants, as the other female usually is not lactating. Young
juveniles stay with the mother and relatives mainly, and as male juveniles get
older they become more peripheral to the group. Here they play together forming
crucial bonds that may help them when the emigrate from their natal group. Males
that emigrate with a partner seems to be more successful than those that move
off alone. Young females on the other hand stay in the center of the group and
become incorporated into the matriline they were born into.
_Depending on sub-species, the body length of
the adult monkey is 38-55cm with comparably short arms and legs. The tail is
longer than the body, typically 40-65cm. Males are considerably larger than
females, weighing 5-9kg compared to the 3-6kg of female individuals.
Scientific name
_The scientific name of the Crab-eating Macaque is
Macaca fascicularis. Macaca comes from the Portuguese word macaco, which was
picked up from makaku, a Fiot (West African language) word (kaku means 'monkey'
in Fiot). Fascicularis is Latin for 'a small band'. Sir Thomas Raffles, who gave
the animal its scientific name in 1821, did not specify what he meant by the use
of this word although it is presumed it had something to do with his observation
of the animal's color. The common name of this animal varies. It is commonly
referred to as the Long-tailed Macaque because the tail of this macaque is
usually about the same length as its body and because its long tail
distinguishes it from most other macaques. The species is also commonly known as
the Crab-eating Macaque. Another common name for M. fascicularis is the
Cynomolgous Monkey, which literally means "dog-milker" monkey, which is the name
most commonly used for these animals in laboratory settings. In Indonesia, M.
fascicularis and other macaque species are generically known as kera, possibly
because of the high-pitched alarm calls they give when in danger ("krra! krra!")
Conservation status
_The Crab-eating Macaque has the third largest
range of any primate species, behind only humans and the Rhesus Macaque. Since
the wild harvest of the species for animal testing has been reduced by
captive-breeding programs, the total population of M. fascicularis is not under
significant threat. The IUCN Red List categorizes the species as "Lower Risk";
and CITES lists it as Appendix II ("not necessarily threatened with extinction,
but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible
with their survival". The umbrosa subspecies is argued to be of important
biological significance. It has been recommended as a candidate for protection
in the Nicobar islands, where its small, native population has been seriously
fragmented (Umapathy et al., 2003). One main conservation concern is that in
areas where M. fascicularis is non-native, their populations need to be
monitored, managed, or eradicated where they have a negative impact on native
flora/fauna.
Redactie: info(at)rijskamp.com
Cagayan
de Oro June 22, 2007
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