Virtual Non-Human Primate Zoo
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorrhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Parvorder: Catarrhini
Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
Family: Cercopithecidae
Subfamily: Cercopithecinae
Genus: Macaca
Species: fuscata
COMMON NAME: Japanese Macaque
-
Snow Monkey
-
Japanese Monkey
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Japan
HABITAT:
-
sub-tropical forest
-
both warm and cool temperate forests
Photo Credit: http://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2013/12/travel-photography-winter-japan
Photo Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jigokudani_hotspring_in_Nagano_Japan_001.jpg
Japanese Macaque - Macaca fuscata
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
-
shades of brown/grey to yellowish brown
-
colorful face and posterior
-
fur is very thick for cold weather conditions
-
short stumpy tail
-
sexually dimorphic
-
move on all fours
DIET: Omnivore
-
leaves
-
fruit
-
berries
-
seeds
-
small animals
-
insects
-
fungi
LOCOMOTION TYPE: Quadrupeds
SOCIAL GROUP ORGANIZATION:
-
multi-male and multi-female matrilineal groups
PARENTAL CARE: Mother is primary caregiver
-
mother must carry, nurse, and protect the infant
-
alloparenting (care by non-mother females) has been observed
-
male will huddle with, carry, and protect the young
COMMUNICATION:
-
scream calls: being approached a non-group species
-
coo: infants want contact from the mothers
-
fear grimace: to reduce aggression in aggressive encounters
-
staring with open mouth: this is a threat expression
-
social grooming: where one individual grooms another to bond
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:
-
Japanese macaques make snowballs for fun!
-
They can have different accents.
-
Female macaques are actually very picky when choosing a mate.
-
Higher ranking have access to hot spring and other such commodities.
ENDANGERMENT STATUS: Least Concern
To learn more about Macaca fuscata, visit the following websites:
Information and photographs compiled by N. Guerrero and J. Towfeless.