The Assam macaque has a yellowish-grey to dark brown pelage. The facial skin is dark brownish to purplish. The head has a dark fringe of hair on the cheeks directed backwards to the ears. The hair on the crown is parted in the middle. The shoulders, head and arms tend to be paler than the hindquarters, which are greyish. The tail is well-haired and short. Head-to-body-length measures 51 to 73.5 cm (20.1 to 28.9 in), and the tail is 15 to 30 cm (5.9 to 11.8 in) long. Adult weight is 5 to 10 kg (11 to 22 lb).[3]
Distribution and habitat
Assam macaques in Shanghai Zoo
The Macaca assamensis "Nepal population" is endemic to Nepal and likely in some way distinct from the two recognized subspecies, which occupy adjacent areas to the southeast and east of the range of M. assamensis. There is a gap in northeastern India between the two main population pockets, specifically between central Bhutan and the south side of the Brahmaputra River; the east bank of its upper course marks the division between the two recognized subspecies:[4]
During surveys carried out in 1976, 1978, and 1984 in Nepal, Assam macaques were found to be patchily distributed along rivers in tropical and subtropical forests at altitudes from 200 to 1,800 metres (660 to 5,910 ft). They are apparently absent from areas west of the Kaligandaki River.[5] In India, they live in tropical and subtropical semievergreen forests, dry deciduous and montane forests, from the sea level to altitudes of 4,000 metres (13,000 ft).[6] They usually inhabit hill areas above 1,000 m (3,300 ft), but in the wetter east they may occur even in the lowlands, and frequent areas that only marginally reach this altitude. In Laos and Vietnam, they prefer high altitudes, usually above 500 m (1,600 ft). In forests on limestonekarst, they occur in much lower elevations.[2]
Ecology and behaviour
Assam macaques are diurnal, and at times both arboreal and terrestrial. They are omnivorous and feed on fruits, leaves, invertebrates and cereals.[2] In Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, 15 groups were recorded in 2002 comprising 209 individuals. The population had a group density of 1.11 individuals per 1 km2 (0.39 sq mi), and an average group size of 13.93 individuals.[7] During a survey in Nepal's Langtang National Park in 2007, a total of 213 Assamese macaques were encountered in 9 groups in the study area of 113 km2 (44 sq mi). Troop sizes varied between 13 and 35 individuals, with a mean troop size of 23.66 individuals, and comprised 31% adult females, 16% adult males, and their young of various ages. They preferred maize kernals, followed by potato tubers, but also raided fields with wheat, buckwheat, and millet.[8]
Threats
The threats to this species' habitat include selective logging and various forms of anthropogenic development and activities, alien invasives, hunting and trapping for sport, medicine, food, and the pet trade. Additionally, hybridization with adjacent species poses a threat to some populations.[9]
Conservation
Macaca assamensis is listed in CITES Appendix II. It is legally protected in all countries of occurrence. For the populations in India, the species is listed under Schedule II, part I of the Indian Wildlife Act.[7]
References
Wikispecies has information related to Assam Macaque.
^Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 161. ISBN0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
^ abcdBoonratana, R.; Chalise, M.; Htun, S.; Timmins, R.J. (2020). "Macaca assamensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T12549A17950189. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T12549A17950189.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^Françis, C. M. (2008) A field guide to the mammals of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers. ISBN1-84537-735-4
^Groves, C. P. (2001) Primate taxonomy. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA.
^Wada, K. (2005) The distribution pattern of rhesus and Assamese monkeys in Nepal. Primates (2005) 46:115–119.
^Srivastava, A. and Mohnot, S. M. (2001) Distribution, conservation status and priorities for primates in Northeast India July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. ENVIS Bulletin: Wildlife and Protected Areas 1(1): 102–108.
^ abChetry, D., Medhi, R., Biswas, J., Das, D. and Bhattacharjee, P. C. (2003). Nonhuman primates in the Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India. International Journal of Primatology 24(2): 383–388.
^Regmi, G. R., Kandel, K. (2008). Population Status, Threats and Conservation Measures of Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis) in Langtang National Park, Nepal. A final report submitted to Primate Society of Great Britain, UK.
^Molur, S., Brandon-Jones, D., Dittus, W., Eudey, A., Kumar, A., Singh, M., Feeroz, M. M., Chalise, M., Priya, P. and Walker, S. (2003). Status of South Asian Primates: Conservation Assessment and Management Plan Report 2016-12-21 at the Wayback Machine. Workshop Report, 2003. Zoo Outreach Organization/CBSG-South Asia, Coimbatore, India.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macaca assamensis.
July 05, 2023
assam, macaque, macaca, assamensis, assamese, macaque, macaque, world, monkey, family, native, south, southeast, asia, since, 2008, been, listed, near, threatened, iucn, list, experiencing, significant, declines, poaching, habitat, degradation, fragmentation, . The Assam macaque Macaca assamensis or Assamese macaque is a macaque of the Old World monkey family native to South and Southeast Asia Since 2008 it has been listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List as it is experiencing significant declines due to poaching habitat degradation and fragmentation 2 Assam macaqueConservation statusNear Threatened IUCN 3 1 2 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder PrimatesSuborder HaplorhiniInfraorder SimiiformesFamily CercopithecidaeGenus MacacaSpecies M assamensis 1 Binomial nameMacaca assamensis 1 McClelland 1840Assam macaque rangeM a pelops in Nagarjun Forest Kathmandu Nepal Contents 1 Characteristics 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology and behaviour 4 Threats 5 Conservation 6 References 7 External linksCharacteristics EditThe Assam macaque has a yellowish grey to dark brown pelage The facial skin is dark brownish to purplish The head has a dark fringe of hair on the cheeks directed backwards to the ears The hair on the crown is parted in the middle The shoulders head and arms tend to be paler than the hindquarters which are greyish The tail is well haired and short Head to body length measures 51 to 73 5 cm 20 1 to 28 9 in and the tail is 15 to 30 cm 5 9 to 11 8 in long Adult weight is 5 to 10 kg 11 to 22 lb 3 Distribution and habitat Edit Assam macaques in Shanghai Zoo The Macaca assamensis Nepal population is endemic to Nepal and likely in some way distinct from the two recognized subspecies which occupy adjacent areas to the southeast and east of the range of M assamensis There is a gap in northeastern India between the two main population pockets specifically between central Bhutan and the south side of the Brahmaputra River the east bank of its upper course marks the division between the two recognized subspecies 4 The eastern Assamese macaque M a assamensis occurs in Bhutan Arunachal Pradesh Assam Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Nagaland Sikkim and Tripura in northeastern India into northern Myanmar southeast through the Myanmar Thailand border ranges as far as Chongkrong to the upper Mekong in Tibet into the provinces of Guangxi Guizhou Tibet and Yunnan in southwestern China in Thateng in northern Laos and Hoi Xuan in northern Vietnam The western Assamese macaque M a pelops is found from central Nepal through Uttar Pradesh Sikkim Assam and northernmost West Bengal in northern India into central Bhutan and the Sundarbans in Bangladesh During surveys carried out in 1976 1978 and 1984 in Nepal Assam macaques were found to be patchily distributed along rivers in tropical and subtropical forests at altitudes from 200 to 1 800 metres 660 to 5 910 ft They are apparently absent from areas west of the Kaligandaki River 5 In India they live in tropical and subtropical semievergreen forests dry deciduous and montane forests from the sea level to altitudes of 4 000 metres 13 000 ft 6 They usually inhabit hill areas above 1 000 m 3 300 ft but in the wetter east they may occur even in the lowlands and frequent areas that only marginally reach this altitude In Laos and Vietnam they prefer high altitudes usually above 500 m 1 600 ft In forests on limestone karst they occur in much lower elevations 2 Ecology and behaviour EditAssam macaques are diurnal and at times both arboreal and terrestrial They are omnivorous and feed on fruits leaves invertebrates and cereals 2 In Namdapha National Park Arunachal Pradesh 15 groups were recorded in 2002 comprising 209 individuals The population had a group density of 1 11 individuals per 1 km2 0 39 sq mi and an average group size of 13 93 individuals 7 During a survey in Nepal s Langtang National Park in 2007 a total of 213 Assamese macaques were encountered in 9 groups in the study area of 113 km2 44 sq mi Troop sizes varied between 13 and 35 individuals with a mean troop size of 23 66 individuals and comprised 31 adult females 16 adult males and their young of various ages They preferred maize kernals followed by potato tubers but also raided fields with wheat buckwheat and millet 8 Threats EditThe threats to this species habitat include selective logging and various forms of anthropogenic development and activities alien invasives hunting and trapping for sport medicine food and the pet trade Additionally hybridization with adjacent species poses a threat to some populations 9 Conservation EditMacaca assamensis is listed in CITES Appendix II It is legally protected in all countries of occurrence For the populations in India the species is listed under Schedule II part I of the Indian Wildlife Act 7 References Edit Wikispecies has information related to Assam Macaque Groves C P 2005 Wilson D E Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press p 161 ISBN 0 801 88221 4 OCLC 62265494 a b c d Boonratana R Chalise M Htun S Timmins R J 2020 Macaca assamensis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020 e T12549A17950189 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2020 2 RLTS T12549A17950189 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 Francis C M 2008 A field guide to the mammals of South East Asia New Holland Publishers ISBN 1 84537 735 4 Groves C P 2001 Primate taxonomy Smithsonian Institution Press Washington DC USA Wada K 2005 The distribution pattern of rhesus and Assamese monkeys in Nepal Primates 2005 46 115 119 Srivastava A and Mohnot S M 2001 Distribution conservation status and priorities for primates in Northeast India Archived July 21 2011 at the Wayback Machine ENVIS Bulletin Wildlife and Protected Areas 1 1 102 108 a b Chetry D Medhi R Biswas J Das D and Bhattacharjee P C 2003 Nonhuman primates in the Namdapha National Park Arunachal Pradesh India International Journal of Primatology 24 2 383 388 Regmi G R Kandel K 2008 Population Status Threats and Conservation Measures of Assamese macaque Macaca assamensis in Langtang National Park Nepal A final report submitted to Primate Society of Great Britain UK Molur S Brandon Jones D Dittus W Eudey A Kumar A Singh M Feeroz M M Chalise M Priya P and Walker S 2003 Status of South Asian Primates Conservation Assessment and Management Plan Report Archived 2016 12 21 at the Wayback Machine Workshop Report 2003 Zoo Outreach Organization CBSG South Asia Coimbatore India External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macaca assamensis ARKive Assam macaque Macaca assamensis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Assam macaque amp oldid 1145007515, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
