Where does the rhesus macaque live?
The rhesus macaque lives in South, Central and South-East Asia. It has the widest geographic range of all non-human primates, occupying a great diversity of altitudes and habitats. It is diurnal, arboreal and terrestrial. It lives in troops of 20 to 200 individuals, organised along female lines. Some live in cities. It is a gregarious species with between six and nine recognised subspecies, split into two groups, Chinese-derived and Indian-derived.
What does the rhesus macaque eat?
It is mostly herbivorous, feeding mainly on fruit, but also eating seeds, roots, buds, bark and cereals. Those living in cities also eat human food and trash. Individuals communicate with a variety of facial expressions, postures and sounds.
Is the rhesus macaque endangered?
No: the IUCN lists it as Least Concern. It has facilitated many scientific breakthroughs, including vaccines for rabies, smallpox and polio, and medication to treat HIV/AIDS. It is generally brown or grey. Adult males measure about 53 cm and weigh about 7.7 kg, females about 47 cm and 5.3 kg.
