Sulawesi crested black macaque
- Class: Mammals (Mammalia)
- Order: Primater (Primates)
- Family: Cercopithecidae
- Genus: Macaca
- Species: Macaca nigra
- SubGenus: M. n. nigra
Size
The male weighs 10 kg, the female 6 kg.
Ecology
The Sulawesi, or crested black macaques, similarly to other macaques, travel and live in strict hierarchical groups of 5 to 15 individuals.
In the mountain rainforests of Sulawesi where they live, they spend a lot of time on the ground, but forage for food predominantly in trees. Females usually remain in the same group all their lives and males move between different groups. The group members communicate and relate to each other through a wide variety of social behaviours such as grooming, sounding and vocalising and the use of facial expressions and body language.
Food habits
The Sulawesi macaque eats various plants as well as clams, snails and crayfish.
Reproduction
A sufficient food supply is required for Sulawesi macaques to begin their breeding season, and when conditions are favourable, the female’s behind gradually swells and becomes bright pink to red, signalling that she is in heat.
The female gives birth to a single young after a gestation period of 5.5 months.
Longevity
Sulawesi macaques live to approximately 18 years in the wild, and up to 25 years in zoos.
Conservation status
As a result of human activity such as farming, logging and hunting, the macaques’ habitat on Sulawesi is continuously decreasing.
IUCN Threat Category:
Endangered.
