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Lion-tailed macaque - MACACA SILENUS

Endangered

Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
Subclass: True Mammals (Eutheria)
Order: First Order Mammals (Primatea)
Family: Cercopithecidae.

The word "Macaque": "Macaque" possibly comes from an African word for "some monkeys."

Location: Southwestern India.

Habitat: Terrestrial and arboreal. Forests.

Description: Of the 16 species of macaques, this one is the most striking because of the two large tufts of pale gray cheek hair which contrast so vividly with the rest of its coat, which is a shiny brownish black color. The tail is covered with shorter hairs. The face, which looks quite large because of these tufts, is somewhat elongated as well. The body structures are quite muscular. Length of head and body up to 26 in, tail up to 18 in, and weight between 13 and 20 lbs, with females about one third smaller.

Behavior: The lion-tailed macaque lives in quite large groups of 20-30 individuals, made up of both sexes and of all ages. It moves nimbly among the branches of trees as well as on the ground, and is also an able swimmer. It is active mainly during the daylight hours, which is when its cry is most frequently heard. It feeds on a large variety of plants and plant matter, including fruits, but will often pursue insects and small vertebrates as well.

Reproduction: Gestation lasts for about 6 months, then the female delivers a single young, or in rare cases twins. The young are looked after and suckled by their mother for more than a year, and take at least four years to reach maturity.