Stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides)

🐒 Stump-tailed Macaque (Macaca arctoides)

The Stump-tailed macaque, also known as the Bear macaque, is a robust and powerful primate known for its short tail, bare red face, and stocky build. Native to Southeast Asia, this monkey is notable for its social complexity and preference for dense forests.

🔍 Identification

• Size:
  • Males: 50–65 cm long, 9–18 kg
  • Females: Smaller, around 7–9 kg
• Tail:
  • Very short, often only 2–7 cm, hence the name “stump-tailed”
• Fur:
  • Thick, shaggy, and dark brown to blackish in color
• Face:
  • Bare and bright red in adults; pinkish in young
  • Becomes redder with age or during periods of social excitement

🌍 Distribution & Habitat

• Range:
  • Found in northeast India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, southern China, and Malaysia
• Habitat:
  • Prefers evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, including hill forests
  • Also seen in swamp forests and degraded forest areas
• Altitude:
  • Commonly found at 300 to 2,000 meters above sea level

🍽️ Diet

• Omnivorous:
  • Fruits, seeds, leaves, roots, fungi
  • Also consumes insects, bird eggs, and small animals
• Known to forage on the ground, using their strong hands to dig for roots and tubers

🐣 Life & Behavior

• Social Structure:
  • Live in large multi-male, multi-female troops, sometimes over 50 individuals
  • Dominance hierarchy exists; females inherit rank from mothers
• Communication:
  • Use facial expressions, vocalizations, and body postures for social interaction
  • Known for complex grooming behavior
• Reproduction:
  • Breeding season varies by region
  • Gestation: ~170 days
  • Single offspring per birth; infants cling to mothers’ bellies

🛑 Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • Threatened by deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and hunting for bushmeat or traditional medicine
• Conservation Efforts:
  • Protected in many parts of its range
  • Featured in wildlife conservation programs and reserves

📌 Summary

The Stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides) is a tough, forest-dwelling monkey known for its red face, short tail, and tight-knit social groups. Despite its wide range, it’s facing increasing threats from human activities. Its importance in forest ecosystems as a seed disperser and insect predator makes its protection all the more vital.

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