Long Tail Macaques

A mother restraining her baby.

The long tail macaques (Macaca fascicularis), sometimes called the crab eating macaques are distributed widely in S.E.Asia.

Weighing from 7 to 26 pounds, the males are larger than the females. They live in groups or troops of about 30 members. Though arboreal, they do spend a portion of their time on the ground for food and play. Their foods consist of seeds, shoots, fruits, insects and small animals. Sometimes, if they are living near the coasts and mangrove forest, they do relish crabs too, hence the name crab eating macaques.

This macaque can breed anytime during the year. After a gestation or pregnancy that lasts 160 days the baby will be born. They will be weaned at about 420 days. The males reach sexual maturity around year 6 while the female achieves theirs at age 4.

Due to development, many colonies of these monkeys are being isolated up in forested limestone hills surrounded by housing estates. Sometimes they do move into houses to forage for food and as such making themselves a pest.

Until recently, they were still caught and sold for scientific experiments. But now the pressure has being lifted as those used for medical researches are being bred domestically.

A mating pair.

Three juveniles playing.

A mother and its child.

Curious.

On the look out.

A family of three.

A seaside dwelling macaque.