Wildlife Facts The Long-tailed or crab-eating macaque is the only species of monkey found in the Philippines. It is a species widespread throughout Southeast Asia. The scientific name is Macaca fascicularis. They have short arms and legs. Their body fur tends to be grey-brown to reddish brown. Males weigh up to 7 kg. while females weigh up to only 4 kg. They are diurnal (active during the day) and arboreal (tree-living). They use their long tail to balance themsleves when they move through the branches of trees. Like other non-human primates, they are smart and capable of learning new behavior. Where did our macaques come from? The 4 macaques currently on display came to us from different circumstances. Moimoi, a young adult male, was owned as a pet until he began to get aggressive towards his owner and other people. This is a very common occurrence with primate pets when they begin to mature. Eco, a juvenile male, was brought to us by the Ecology Center with a leg injury, possibly from an animal trap. Pauline, a very small juvenile female, was picked up from the side of the road, comatose, with a gaping wound on her back. She had apparently been in this condition for about 48 hours, as evidenced by the infestation of maggots on her wound. She survived multiple surgeries, further complications, including the eventual amputation of her tail, and is now a permanent resident of the facility. Molly, the latest addition, appeared at a home nearby looking for food and company. She was apparently a former pet because she had marks around her waist from some kind of tether and was seeking comfort from people. What special characteristics do they have? Macaques are highly social animals with a complex male-dominated hierarchy, but with a visible dominance hierarchy among the females as well. Loud vocalizations and branch-bouncing are characteristic parts of daily interactions, especially between different troops. The alpha male is usually the one who leads the aggression by doing most of the branch-bouncing. Macaques, like other primates, have many different facial expression they use to communicate. For example, they will use an “open mouth” as a threat. This involves showing the enemy the incisors and canines, and pulling the ears and nose back. A “fear grin” looks like a smile, but indicates the animal is afraid. “Lip smacking” is done when one animal is involved in friendly grooming of another. Long-tailed macaques are renowned for their swimming ability. They will dive underwater to retrieve food items, and will jump into the water from nearby trees. Youngsters often swim and play in the water a lot like human children. Where do they live? Long-tailed macaques are "ecologically diverse." Some of the habitats in which they have been found are primary forests, secondary forests, river and coastal forests of nipa palm and mangrove and freshwater swamps. Long-tailed macaques are tolerant of humans and may be found near villages. Troop size can range from 20-60 individuals, and these center around the core reproducing female. What do they eat? Macaques are omnivores, eating a wide variety of foods such as fruits,crabs, flowers, insects, leaves, vegetable, nuts, fungi and grasses. How long do they live? In captivity, they can live for up to 38 years. How do they reproduce? Long-tailed macaques live in a "harem polygamy" in which alpha males may copulate with many females. Dominant females are more succesful at mating and seem to have more successful offspring. The age of sexual maturity for males is about six years, and the age for females is about four years. The peak birth period occurs during the rainy season. Females may be quite sexually active, and mate promiscuously with many males a day. After a gestation period of 160-193 days, the female gives birth to one infant, rarely twins. Their weight at birth is 350g. Is it a boy or girl? Sex can be determined by examining external genitalia. Males have a conspicuous penis and are also larger in body size than the females. How are they affected by or affect human populations? Long-tailed macaques are tolerant of human activities. They have been known to feed in cultivated fields and also take food from graveyards, garbage cans, and garbage pits. They have also become involved in aggresive interactions with people. In Thailand and Borneo, they are hunted for food. This species is being killed because it is a considered as a pest to agriculture. The fact that these macaques destroy crops has prevented some governments from making serious conservation efforts. Long-tailed macaques are also collected for medical research. They are one of the five most used primate species in medical research. They were the clinical test animal for the development of the polio vaccine. However, some people in Bali consider them to be sacred. Extensive logging operations continued to destroy their natural habitat. They are also under pressure from the illegal wildlife pet trade. What are Macaques?
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