Introduction

. Most common macaque seen in India.

. An Old World monkey, is also known by the scientific name of Macaca radiata

Taxonomy

• Kingdom :Animalia • Phylum : Chordata • Class : Mammalia • Order : Primates• Family : Ceropithecidae• Genus : Macaca• Species : Macaca radiata• Zoological name :Macaca radiata

Habitat• Found only in India.

• Found in both evergreen and wet deciduous forests & also in urban areas.

• The bonnet macaque prefers elevations up to 2000 meters.

• Found in almost every kind of jungle of India & in the Nagarhole National Park, Manas National Park, Periyar National Park, Bandipur National Park, Bannarghatta National Park.

Species Character• Have a cap-like whorl of hair on their head,

which radiates outward from the center. So they have been named as Bonnet macaques.

• Have a grayish brown back.

• This species has cheek pouches to carry food in while it forages.

• The average body mass

• The face of a female Bonnet macaque is red in color.

• The tail is two-thirds the length of the body.

Physical Characters

• Head and body length- Male: 37 - 48cm - Female: 45 - 59cm

• Weight - Male: 3.9 - 4.4kg

- Female: 5.4 - 8.8kg

. Lifespan : Longevity of the Bonnet Macaque exceeds to more than the 30 years.

Behavior

• Bonnet macaques of India are quite sociable and are seen mostly in groups, which comprise of both males as well as females. There can be upto 12 males in a group and the number of females can go upto 15. They live in their own marked territory and defend it very fiercely. Diurnal in nature, Indian Bonnet macaques frequently sleep in fig trees near human settlements or tall trees with dense foliage.

Other Characters

• Reproduction : The gestation period of female Bonnet macaque is approximately 165 days. The number of offspring born is only one, which weighs around 400 gm at the time of birth.

• Conservation status : Not considered as the endangered. Least considered.

Diet

• Bonnet Macaque is a frugivorous species.

• They feeds on ripe fruits, seeds, nuts, flowers, squash, coconuts, peanuts,coffee beans, rice, cereals & invertebrates.

• This species has cheek pouches to carry food.

Diseases

• Macaques are carriers of the herpes-B virus. This virus is harmless to macaques, but can spread to humans.

• Many tick born diseases spreads to humans.

• Nasal cavity carcinosarcoma / malignant intranasal neoplasm.

• Malignant fibrous histiocytoma.