by Active Wild Admin
activewild.com
6/ 26/ 2023
The Rhesus macaque is a primate belonging to the Old World monkey family. Found in Asia, this common & wide-ranging species inhabits a larger area than any other non-human primate.
Rhesus Macaque Key Facts
Other name(s): Rhesus monkey
Scientific Name: Macaca mulatta
Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Height: Approximately 0.5 meters (1.64 feet) tall when fully grown & standing
Weight: Males typically weigh between 7.7-11.7 kg (17-26 lb), while females typically weigh between 5.3-9.1 kg (12-20 lb)
Where Found: native to South, Central, & Southeast Asia.
Habitat: occupies a great diversity of altitudes & habitats, from grasslands to arid & forested areas, as well as human towns and cities.
IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern
Rhesus Monkey Fun Facts
The rhesus macaque is found across a wider area than any other nonhuman primate.
A rhesus macaque named Sam was sent to the edge of space in NASA’s Little Joe 2 spacecraft. After reaching an altitude of 55 miles, Sam returned to Earth & was recovered unharmed. He was one of several rhesus macaques to have been used in space flight research.
The Rhesus factor, or Rh factor, of human blood is named after the rhesus macaque. Humans who have a particular antigen are referred to as Rh or rhesus positive, while those who lack it are Rh or rhesus negative. In the 1930s & 1940s, experiments conducted on rhesus monkeys led to the discovery of the Rhesus factor.
Rhesus Macaque
The Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) is a primate in the Old World monkey family, Cercopithecidae. It inhabits a broad range crossing South, Central, & Southeast Asia, making it the (nonhuman) primate with the widest geographic spread.
This adaptable species is able to thrive in a diverse range of habitats, including grasslands, forests, & arid regions.
The rhesus macaque is also often commonly found in towns & cities, including the Indian cities of Delhi, Jaipur, & Varanasi.
The rhesus macaque is highly social, living in groups with a clear hierarchical structure, & communication between individuals is complex & involves both vocalizations & physical gestures. The species is diurnal (active during the day), & spends time both on the ground & in trees.
The Rhesus Macaque often comes into conflict with humans due to its tendency to raid crops & inhabit urban areas. In some areas it is considered a pest due to its crop-raiding behavior, & in cities it can occasionally be aggressive towards humans.
Rhesus Macaques are often used as model organisms (organisms used in place of other organisms) in research, given their physiological & genetic similarity to humans. A number of crucial discoveries in medicine & psychology have been made as a result of studying the species.
Physical Description
The Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta), also known as the rhesus monkey, is a medium-sized primate with a robust & agile body. It exhibits significant sexual dimorphism (difference between male & female) in its size, with males generally being larger & heavier than females.
On average, an adult male measures about 53 cm in length & weighs between 7.7-11.7 kg, while an adult female measures around 47 cm & weighs between 5.3-9.1 kg.
The color of the Rhesus Macaque's fur varies from light brown to grey, with a pink or light-brown face that is typically bereft of fur. The face is characterized by close-set, round eyes & a prominent muzzle. The arms & legs are of about equal length. The tail is medium in length & while not prehensile (able to grip) is often used for balance.
The Rhesus Macaque has a very expressive face, which is an important aspect of the species’ complex social interactions. Like most Old World monkeys, it has a dental formula of 2:1:2:3.
Rhesus Macaque Family & Related Species
The Rhesus Macaque is a member of the order Primates, & is part of the family Cercopithecidae, also known as the Old World monkeys.
The Old World monkey family is the largest of the primate families, containing over 138 species divided into 19 genera.
In addition to the 23 currently-recognized macaque species, the family is home to species such as baboons, mandrills, & colobus monkeys.
Macaques
Macaques are a diverse & adaptable group of Old World monkeys that make up the genus Macaca. Currently, 23 species of macaque are recognized. They are spread across Asia, North Africa, & (in one instance) Gibraltar.
Macaques are known for their intelligence & complex social structures, often living in large groups with clear hierarchies. Notable for their high adaptability, they can be found in a variety of habitats, ranging from snow-covered mountains to dense rainforests, & often thrive near human settlements.
Examples of macaques include: the bonnet macaque, the crab-eating macaque (also known as the long-tailed macaque), Tibetan macaque (the largest macaque), the Japanese macaque (also known as the snow monkey) & the Barbary macaque (the only monkey found in the wild in Europe).
Where Is The Rhesus Macaque Found? Range & Habitat
The Rhesus Macaque inhabits a broad range in South, Central, & Southeast Asia. No other primate other than humans is found across a wider area.
The species’ natural habitats are diverse & include grasslands, high mountains, & forests that span Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Southeast Asia, & China.
The Rhesus Macaque is often seen in urban & suburban environments, living in close proximity to humans. In many Indian cities, for example, the monkey is a common sight in temples, parks, & even residential areas.
Indian cities in which the rhesus macaque is resident include Delhi, Jaipur, & Varanasi, among others.
The Rhesus Macaque has also been introduced to other parts of the world. A well-known colony resides in Silver Springs State Park in Florida, USA, after being introduced there in the 1930s. These monkeys have occasionally been sighted in the nearby urban areas.
What Does The Rhesus Monkey Eat? Diet & Foraging
Rhesus Macaques are omnivorous, possessing a flexible & diverse diet that allows them to thrive in a wide variety of habitats. They consume a range of foods including fruits, grass, leaves, roots, bark, & flowers, as well as insects, small animals & bird eggs.
The rhesus macaque has special cheek pouches in which it can store food for later consumption.
Soil eating (geophagy) is common among rhesus monkeys (source) – this may be to supplement the monkey’s mineral intake, or to aid digestion.
Researchers found that members of the introduced rhesus monkey colony in Florida’s Silver Springs State Park would consume eggs taken from bird nests.
Is The Rhesus Macaque Endangered?
The Rhesus Macaque is not endangered. At the time of writing, the species’ IUCN conservation status is “Least Concern” (June 2023). This is due to the species' wide distribution, adaptability to a variety of habitats, & large population size.
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