Macaque (Macaca fuscata)

MammalPrimateHighly adaptable

Overview

Macaques (genus Macaca) are among the most successful and widespread of all monkeys, with many species ranging across Asia and into North Africa. They are sturdy, intelligent, highly social Old World monkeys that thrive in an enormous variety of habitats — including close alongside humans. The Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata), shown here, is the famous “snow monkey,” living further north than any other non-human primate and celebrated for bathing in hot springs.

Macaques are known for their behavioural flexibility and learning, including cultural traditions that spread within groups.

Note: “macaque” covers many species with varied habits; details here use the Japanese macaque as a reference. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Macaques occupy a huge range of habitats across Asia (and, in the case of the Barbary macaque, North Africa and Gibraltar): tropical forests, mountains, grasslands, mangroves, temples, and cities. The Japanese macaque endures cold, snowy winters in the mountains and forests of Japan, an unusual feat for a primate and the reason for its “snow monkey” nickname.

Diet

Macaques are opportunistic omnivores with broad, flexible diets: fruit, seeds, leaves, flowers, roots, insects, small animals, and, around people, human food and crops. This dietary flexibility is a major reason for their success across so many environments, but it can also bring them into conflict with farmers and city dwellers.

Behavior

Macaques live in complex social groups structured by dominance and kinship, with rich social behaviour including grooming, alliances, and learning. Japanese macaques are famous for cultural traditions: in one well-studied group, individuals learned to wash sweet potatoes in water, and the habit spread and persisted across generations, while in cold regions some macaques famously soak in hot springs to keep warm. Such socially transmitted behaviours make macaques important subjects in studies of animal intelligence and culture.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Macaques live closer to people than almost any other monkey, which makes them both familiar and frequently in conflict with humans over food and crops; some are also used in biomedical research. Many macaque species are common and adaptable, but a number of forest-restricted species are threatened by habitat loss. Feeding wild macaques is discouraged, as it worsens conflict and can spread disease. Consult authoritative sources for species-specific status.

More photos of the macaque