Home > Facts > Animal Facts > Crab-eating macaque Facts

Crab-eating macaque Facts

Crab-eating macaque Facts
Crab-eating macaque, also known as cynomolgus monkey, belongs to the group of Old World Monkeys. There are 10 subspecies of crab-eating macaque that are native to Southeast Asia. They inhabit subtropical and tropical forests, coastal lowland forests, deciduous and evergreen forests, mangroves and swamps. The greatest threat for the survival of crab-eating macaques in the wild is habitat loss. Also, crab-eating macaques are often collected from the wild for the purpose of medical researches and due to pet trade. Despite these factors, population of crab-eating macaques is large and stable in the wild.
Interesting Crab-eating macaque Facts:
Crab-eating macaque can reach 15 to 22 inches in length and 3 to 20 pounds of weight. Males are much larger than females.
Crab-eating macaque is covered with grayish brown or reddish brown fur on dorsal side of the body and pale grey fur on ventral side of the body. Tail is dark grey or brown in color.
Male crab-eating monkeys have moustaches and cheek whiskers, while females have only whiskers.
Crab-eating macaque has 16 to 26 inches long tail that provides balance when it moves in the treetops. Crab-eating macaque is also able to jump horizontal distance of up to 16.4 feet.
Crab-eating macaque is diurnal animal (active during the day).
Crab-eating macaque is an omnivore (it eats plants and meat). Its diet is based on fruit, leaves, nuts, seed, crabs, oysters, small birds and their eggs, lizards and frogs.
Crab-eating macaques use tools such as rocks to break shell of crabs, nuts and oysters and teeth to peel skin of sweet potato.
Crab-eating macaque lives in large groups called troops. Each group consists of around 20 females and one or few males. Dominant female is the leader of the troop.
Life in a group provides protection against predators such as large birds of prey, snakes, crocodiles and tigers.
One group of crab-eating macaques occupies territory of 125 hectares. Grooming strengthens social bonds in the group. Crab-eating macaques are very aggressive toward other groups or intruders.
Crab-eating macaques communicate via sounds, visual cues (body postures) and olfactory signals (chemical substances produced in the body).
Crab-eating macaques are promiscuous (they mate with more than one partner). Pregnancy in females lasts 162 to 193 days and ends with one baby. Dominant female produces offspring each year. Other females usually breed once every two years.
Crab-eating macaque is covered with black fur on birth. It drinks mother's milk until the age of 420 days.
Females reach sexual maturity at the age of 4 years, males at the age of 6 years. Males leave native group to join other, unrelated group of crab-eating monkeys. Young males often fight to establish dominance and ensure higher rank in the new group.
Crab-eating macaque can survive from 15 to 30 years in the wild.


Related Links:
Facts
Animal Facts
Animals Facts