Barbary
Macaque |
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Scientific classification |
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Binomial name |
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Macaca sylvanus |
The Barbary Macaque
(Macaca sylvanus) is a tail-less macaque. Found in the Atlas Mountains
of Algeria and Morocco with a small, possibly introduced, population in
Gibraltar, the Barbary Macaque is one of the best-known Old World monkey
species. Besides humans, they are the only primates that live freely in Europe.
Although the species is commonly referred to as the "Barbary Ape",
the Barbary Macaque is a true monkey, not an ape.
It is yellowish-brown to
grey with lighter undersides, growing to a maximum size of 75 cm (30 in) and 13
kg (29 lb). Its face is a dark pink and its tail is vestigial. The front limbs
of this monkey are longer than its hind limbs. Females are somewhat smaller
than males.
Dwelling in forests of
cedar, pine and oak, the Barbary Macaque may frequent elevations of 2,100 m
(6,900 ft) or more. It is a diurnal animal, dividing its time more or less
equally between arboreal and terrestrial territory. Mostly herbivorous, this
monkey feeds on leaves, roots, and fruit, but will also eat insects. By day,
the Barbary Macaque patrols a territory which may span several square
kilometers; it peacefully co-exists with other primate species, sharing watering
holes without incident. The Barbary Macaque moves about energetically on all
fours, occasionally rising erect on its hind limbs to survey for threats.
The Barbary Macaque is a
gregarious monkey, forming mixed groups of several females and males; the troop
of 10 to 30 individuals is matriarchal, with its hierarchy determined by
lineage to the lead female. Unlike other macaques, the males participate in
rearing the young; much time is spent playing and grooming with them. In this
way, a strong social bond is formed between a male and his offspring, both the
male's own and those of others in the troop. This may be a result of
selectiveness on the part of the females, who seem to prefer highly parental
males.
The mating season runs from
November through March. After a gestation period of 147 to 192 days, typically
one baby per female is born; twins are a rarity. The monkeys reach maturity at
3 to 4 years of age, and may live for 20 years or more.
The habitat of the Barbary
Macaque is under threat from increased logging activity; they are listed as
vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. Local farmers see the monkeys as pests worthy
of extermination. Once common throughout northern Africa and southern Europe,
there are estimated to be just 1,200 to 2,000 Barbary Macaques left.
The last population in
Europe is that of Gibraltar, which unlike that of North Africa is thriving. At
present there are some 300 animals in five troops occupying the area of the
Upper Rock, though occasional forays into the town result in monkey mayhem.
The Gibraltar population
was under the care of the British Army from 1915 to 1991, who carefully
controlled a population that initially consisted of a single troop. An officer
was appointed to supervise their welfare, and a food allowance was included in
the budget. Births were gazetted in true military fashion, and each new arrival
was named. Following the withdrawal of the British garrison, the government of
Gibraltar took over responsibility for the monkeys.
A popular belief holds that
as long as Barbary Macaques exist on Gibraltar, the territory will remain under
British rule; it is said that during World War II, Winston Churchill
specifically ordered the dwindling population to be replenished for this
reason.
Many of the mistaken ideas
about human physiology contained in the writings of Galen are apparently due to
his use of these animals, the anthropoid available to him, in dissections.
Strong cultural taboos of his era prevented his performing any actual
dissections of human cadavers, even in his role as physician and teacher of
physicians.
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barbary_Macaque&action=history
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html