Description
The Southern Pig-Tailed Macaque, scientifically known as Macaca nemestrina, is a medium-sized macaque that is native to the southern regions of Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This intelligent and mischievous species is also referred to as the Sundaland pig-tailed macaque or Sunda pig-tailed macaque. Locally, it is known as “berok.”
Appearance
This species is characterized by its medium size and distinctive physical features. The Southern Pig-Tailed Macaque has a robust build with a short tail that is held in a distinctive ‘pig-like’ curve, giving it its name. Its fur coloration varies from dark brown to gray, and it has a characteristic tuft of hair at the tail’s base. The males are notably larger than the females, with well-defined, prominent canines.
Distribution
The Southern Pig-Tailed Macaque is primarily found in the southern regions of Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It inhabits various ecosystems within this range, including rainforests, lowland forests, and even entering plantations and gardens. The species’ distribution is notable for its presence in the Sundaland region, which comprises the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, and Java.
Habitat Preferences
This species thrives in a range of habitats, displaying adaptability to diverse environments. It is mostly found in rainforests, where it utilizes both the ground and trees for foraging and shelter. The Southern Pig-Tailed Macaque’s ability to inhabit plantations and gardens also reflects its capacity to adapt to human-altered landscapes.
This profile provides an overview of the Southern Pig-Tailed Macaque, highlighting its unique characteristics, distribution, and habitat preferences. It serves to deepen understanding and appreciation for this remarkable species and the importance of its conservation.
Facts About Southern Pig-Tailed Macaque
- The Southern pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) has a home range size of 100–300 hectares, but they do not use all parts of their range equally (source: NE Primate Conservancy).
- The total population size of the Southern pig-tailed macaque is estimated to be around 900,000 individuals (source: Animalia Bio).
- These macaques are primarily frugivorous, with the majority of their diet consisting of fruits, but they also consume insects, seeds, leaves, dirt, and fungus (source: Animal Diversity Web).
- Southern pig-tailed macaques are found in rainforests up to 2000 meters, as well as in plantations and gardens in the southern regions (source: Thai National Parks).
- They are distributed in northeastern India, southern China, Borneo, Sumatra, and eastern Bangladesh (source: Wisconsin National Primate Research Center).
- The Sunda pig-tailed macaque lives in groups with several males and females, and males are more robust and larger than females (source: BioExplorer).
- Southern pig-tailed macaques are known for their distinctive morphological features, which include their pigtail-like appearance (source: iNaturalist).
- These macaques are also known as Sundaland pig-tailed macaques and are medium-sized Old World monkeys (source: Wikipedia).
- They are capable of entering plantations and gardens in addition to their natural rainforest habitat (source: Thai National Parks).
- The Sunda pig-tailed macaque is a rare primate species found in specific regions (source: BioExplorer).
