Celebes Crested Macaque (Macaca nigra) lives in tropical rainforest across Southeast Asia. It feeds on fruits and insects. Its conservation status is Critically Endangered.
Fascinating facts about the Celebes Crested Macaque
- The crested macaque is the only macaque species whose males and young females sport a heart-shaped skin pad on their rump, a trait that instantly distinguishes it from its relatives. This pad sits on the otherwise jet-black hindquarters, contrasting with the animal's overall dark colouration. The species is also one of the smaller macaques, with females reaching only 44-55 cm in length and males 52-57 cm, weighing up to 12.7 kg.
- Although its face and body look ape-like, the crested macaque's tail is reduced to a barely visible stub only about 2 cm long, a vestigial remnant. The tiny tail, together with the species' short stature, females up to 55 cm and males up to 57 cm, gives the animal a distinctly compact silhouette.
- On Sulawesi only 4,000-6,000 crested macaques remain, yet the nearby island of Bacan hosts a booming colony of up to 100,000 individuals, a stark geographic contrast. The species is divided into around eight subpopulations, with the Bacan group being an introduced population that benefits from the island's low human density.
- Surveys carried out between 1980 and recent years show the crested macaque's density plummeting from more than 300 individuals per square kilometre to a mere 20-60 today, a stark illustration of habitat loss. The species is split into about eight subpopulations, with one introduced group on Bacan island. It favours closed-canopy forest, especially where protected areas raise its occupancy, so the decline is tied to shrinking suitable forest blocks.
- When ready to mate, a female crested macaque's buttocks swell dramatically and turn bright red, a vivid contrast to its black skin that signals fertility to both rivals and potential mates. Pregnancy lasts 174 days, after which a single infant is usually born in the spring when food is abundant. The youngster nurses for about one year before reaching full maturity in three to four years, with females maturing slightly earlier than males.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSoutheast Asia
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietFruits and insects
About the Celebes Crested Macaque
In the lush, emerald canopies of Sulawesi's ancient forests, the Celebes Crested Macaque reigns as a charismatic and enigmatic monarch, its sleek, ebony coat glistening like polished onyx as it navigates the trees with effortless agility. With eyes that burn like dark, molten stars, this critically endangered primate surveys its dwindling kingdom, its very existence a poignant reminder of the fragility and beauty of life on the brink. As it moves through the forest, its crest of vibrant, auburn fur a fiery halo, the macaque embodies the wild, unbridled spirit of a vanishing world.
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