The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma/Mammalia/Class Mammalia/Subclass Eutheria/Order Primates/Suborder Anthropoidea/Family Cercopithecidæ/Subfamily Cercopithecinæ/Genus Macacus

by William Thomas Blanford

Genus MACACUS, Lacépède (1801).

Syn. Inuus, Cuv.; Silenus, Gray.

Body and limbs stout, tail variable. Males larger than females and with larger canines. Ischial callosities well developed. Cheek-pouches large. Muzzle considerably produced; nostrils opening obliquely some distance short of the end of the muzzle. Last molar of lower jaw with five tubercles. Dentition, as throughout the family, i. 4/4, c. 1–1/1–1, pm. 2–2/2–2, m. 3–3/3–3. Vertebral formula C. 7, D. 12 (occasionally 13), L. 7 (or 6), S. 3, C. 10–22.

The Macaques are much more compactly built than the Semnopitheci, and have shorter limbs and a considerably longer muzzle. The species of the present genus resemble each other in their habits; they are found in flocks, often of considerable size, and generally composed of both sexes and of all ages. They are active animals, though less rapid in their movements, whether on trees or on the ground, than the Semnopitheci. Their food is varied, most of the species, if not all, eating insects as well as seeds, fruits, &c., and one kind feeding partly on crustacea. They have occasionally been known to devour lizards, and, it is said, frogs also. All have the habit of cramming food into their cheek-pouches for mastication at leisure, a practice that must be familiar to any one who has fed monkeys in confinement.

The voice and gestures of all^[1] the species are similar and differ entirely from those of both the Gibbons and Semnopitheci. Tickell notices this in his MS. notes, and gives the following details, which are worthy of extraction:—"Anger is generally silent, or, at most, expressed by a low hoarse monotone 'heu,' not so gular or guttural as a growl. Ennui and a desire for company by a whining 'hom.' Invitation, deprecation, entreaty, by a smacking of the lips and a

Fig. 3.—Skull of Macaeus rhesus: ½ diam. (Copied from Anderson, 'An. Zool. Res.')

Fig. 3.—Skull of Macaeus rhesus: ½ diam. (Copied from Anderson, 'An. Zool. Res.')

Fig. 4.—Skull of Macaeus rhesus: ½ diam. (From Anderson.)

Fig. 4.—Skull of Macaeus rhesus: ½ diam. (From Anderson.)

display of the incisors into a regular broad grin, accompanied with a subdued grunting chuckle, highly expressive, but not to be rendered on paper. Fear and alarm by a loud harsh shriek, 'kra' or 'kraouk,' which serves also as a warning to the others who may be heedless of danger. Unlike the Presbytes (Semnopitheci) and Gibbons, they have no voice if calling to one another."

The majority of the species are very docile when young. They thrive well, and several of them have bred in confinement. The period of gestation is about seven months, only a single young one, as a rule, beiug produced at a birth. They become adult at the age of 4 or 5 years, but breed earlier.

 

Synopsis of Indian, Ceylonese, and Burmese Species.

A.

Tail less than ¾ of head and body together.

a.

Colour black, a grey beard and ruff round face ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

M. silenus, p. 16.

b.

Colour brown, no beard or ruff.

a'.

Tail about half as long as the head and body.

a''.

Hair straight, buttocks naked around callosities ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

M. rhesus, p. 13.

b''.

Hair wavy or woolly, buttocks clad up to edge of callosities ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

M. assamensis, p. 15.

b'.

Tail about ⅓ as long as the head and body, and very slender.

a''.

A distinct horseshoe-shaped crest on the crown ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

M. leoninus, p. 18.

b''.

No distinct crest ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

M. nemestrinus, p. 20.

c'.

Tail very short, only one or two inches in length ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

M. arctoides, p. 17.

B.

Tail more than ¾ of head and body together.

a.

Hair of crown lengthened and distinctly radiating from middle.

a'.

General colour greyish brown, not rufous ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

M. sinicus, p. 23.

b'.

General colour rufous or yellowish ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

M. pileatus, p. 24.

b.

Hair of crown neither lengthened nor distinctly radiating ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

M. cynomolgus, p. 21.

1. M. silenus may be an exception, as it is said to have a peculiar call. I have had no opportunities of observing this species in the wild state.