Japanese Macaque

Animals Unique | Japanese Macaque | Japanese Macaque Classification and Evolution The Japanese Macaque is a medium sized monkey found in a variety of different habitats throughout Japan. The Japanese Macaque is also known as the Snow Monkey Often as They are found living in colder regions of the country where heavy snowfall is common during the winter.

 

 They are the world's most northern living monkey species and have adapted incredibly to Their surroundings and changing seasons. There are two different subspecies of Japanese Macaque, the which one is found across northern and mainland Japan, and the other is restricted to one of the country's southern islands. The two differ very slightly in size and appearance.Japanese Macaque Anatomy and AppearanceThe Japanese Macaque has a stocky body with a naked, red face said to resemble That Is That of a Human. Their thick, furry coat is usually gray or brown in color, slightly mottled Sometimes with a pattern, and Grows Thicker during the winter months to allow the Japanese Macaque to stay warm in freezing conditions. Monkey Like other species, the Japanese Macaque has opposable thumbs, allowing it to grasp and hold objects and is Able to walk on just it's Hind legs when it has something in it's hands. The Japanese Macaque also has large pouches in it's cheeks, to allow the Japanese Macaque to store food whilst foraging. They have a Relatively short tail for Their body size (in the same way as other primarily ground-dwelling Monkeys), and lazy growing niche to be somewhat larger than female Their counterparts.Japanese Macaque Distribution and HabitatThe Japanese Macaque is found in four separate regions in Japan throughout a variety of habitats from subtropical jungles to mountain hot springs, in forested hills, across highlands and high up in the mountains. In the northern and central parts of Japan, Japanese macaques, have to contend with seasonal changes with temperatures ranging from -15 degrees Centigrade in the winter to more than 23 in the summer, where the vegetation consists primarily of deciduous trees and conifers. In their most southern range, on the island of Yaku-Shima, the Japanese macaques live amongst tropical broad-leaf forests are subjected to less That seasonal change. 

 

 

In central Japan, the Japanese macaques are found in the mountains, where warm They Themselves in the hot springs are heated by nearby That Volcanoes.Japanese Macaque Behaviour and LifestyleJapanese macaques live together in That Troops are led by the alpha male and usually consist of Between 20 and 30 individuals. The alpha male not only helps to sire young, but also decides where the troop should go, and Protects it from both predators and other Japanese Macaque Troops. Social rank is Very Important in Japanese Macaque society, and consist of both lazy and Females, with the male's rank Often determined by his age. Offspring however, are also thought to inherit the rank of Their mother with younger siblings Often outranking Their older brothers and sisters. Japanese macaques are incredibly Sociable animals, particularly the WHO Females growing niche to REMAIN in the same troop for Their whole lives, and spend Their time together, grooming and raising the troop's young.Japanese Macaque Reproduction and Life CyclesFemale Japanese macaques reach sexual maturity to growing niche about a year than lazy Earlier, at Between the ages of four and five. She usually Chooses her mate by his rank, and after a gestation period That Lasts for up to 6 months, the female Japanese Macaque Gives birth to a single infant.

 

 

Baby Japanese macaques are incredibly dependent on Their mother and clinging to her for REMAIN Their first couple of years, meaning mother and baby That Often have a very close bond. Once weaned, lazy Often leave the troop and spend Their lives traveling Between others, while Females Generally Remain In the same troop That They were born into. Japanese macaques to live for a growing niche Relatively long time, Often reaching ages of 30 years old or more.Japanese Macaque Diet and PreyThe Japanese Macaque is an omnivorous animal That meaning it forages for both plants and smaller animals in order to survive. Unlike a number of other monkey species, Japanese macaques are primarily ground-dwelling so the majority of Their foraging is done on the ground. Mainly They eat fruits, berries, seeds, young leaves and flowers the which They pick from the surrounding vegetation before storing it in their cheek pouches, so That They can continue to gather more. 

 

 

They also supplement the diet with Their Crabs, Insects and Bird's eggs particularly during the colder winter months are slim pickings when Their on the branches. Japanese Macaque Their babies feed on mother's milk until They are Able to begin eating more solid foods.Japanese Macaque Predators and ThreatsDue to fairly large size and Their Diverse habitat ranges, the Japanese Macaque has no real predators in their natural environment, with the exception of Perhaps the occasional hungry or Feral Wolf Dog. Humans are primarily the threat to the Japanese Macaque Often as They are killed by farmers when livestock and crops They approach. However, the only reason That these conflicts occur is that? The Japanese Macaque is being pushed into smaller and smaller pockets of it's native ranges, due to deforestation and growing human settlements. During the colder winter months, Japanese Macaque individuals in the north are also known to sleep in the deciduous trees to protect them from being Buried in large amounts of snow during the night.Japanese Macaque Interesting Facts and FeaturesThe Females are actually very picky when choosing a mate, as They Will not mate with a female Japanese Macaque That They have mated with in the past few years, to Prevent interbreeding within the troop. Japanese macaques, particularity in the north, have different home ranges for the changing seasons leads to the which Their wide variety in diet and different habitats. They are incredibly intelligent and adaptable animals and are known to pass through the new Behaviours generations. In the mid 1900's a female was seen entering a hot spring to gather dropped today and soy beans, whole Troops can be seen resting in the steaming waters Themselves to keep warm.Relationship with Humans Japanese MacaqueLike many of the 22 monkey species found across Japan, the Japanese Macaque is Often loved and protected by the native people. However, growing Human settlements and land clearance for logging and agriculture has Meant That Japanese macaques, have lost the vast areas of Their natural habitats, and Farmland Often have to approach in order to find better food supplies. 

 

 

It is estimated that, Despite being a protected species in Japan today, around 5.000 Japanese Macaque individuals are killed every year by farmers WHO Their claim to be protecting livestock and Their crops. In the Nagano Mountains in central Japan though, the Japanese macaques, That bath in the hot springs, have Become one of the country's most Desirable tourist attractions.Japanese Macaque Conservation Status and Life TodayToday, the Japanese Macaque has been listed as a Threatened species by the IUCN, with the southern subspecies of Japanese Macaque actually listed as Endangered. This means That both have been subjected to loss of natural habitats and Their population numbers have dropped throughout the country. It is estimated there That Could be as few as 50.000 individuals remaining in Japan today, but numbers are still declining particularly seeing Often That They are killed, as They are seen as pests by local people.

Japanese Macaque Facts
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: mammals
Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Macaca
Scientific Name: Macaca fuscata
Common Name: Japanese Macaque
Other Name (s): Snow Monkey
Group: Mammal
Number Of Species: 2
Location: Throughout Japan
Habitat: Tropical forest and mountains
Colour: Brown, Grey
Skin Type: Fur
Size (H): 80cm - 95cm (31.5in - 37.5in)
Weight: 5kg - 14kg (11lbs - 31lbs)
Diet: omnivore
Prey: Fruit, Young Leaves, Seeds
Predators: Human, Wolf, Feral Dog
Lifestyle: Diurnal
Group Behaviour: Troop
Life Span: 25-32 years
Age Of Sexual Maturity: 4-5 years
Gestation Period: 5-6 months
Average Litter Size: 1
Name Of Young: Infant
Of Weaning Age: 20 months
Conservation Status: Threatened
Estimated Population Size: 50.000
Biggest Threat: Habitat loss
Most Distinctive Feature: Red and human-like, naked face
Fun Fact: Has cheek pouches for storing food!