Japanese Macaque

About this species

Size

Body 47–60cm; tail 7–12cm

Weight

Females about 8.4kg; males about 11.3kg

Diet

Fruit, leaves, seeds, bark and invertebrates

Habitat

Temperate and subtropical forest

Range

Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and smaller islands

The Japanese macaque is a sturdy, short-tailed monkey with brown-grey fur, a pink bare face and a red rump. Adults measure roughly 47–60cm excluding the 7–12cm tail; males average about 11.3kg and females about 8.4kg. The species occurs farther north than any other non-human primate and survives cold, snowy winters as well as warmer southern conditions (Fooden and Aimi 2005, as reported on Wikipedia).

Across its range, Japanese macaques live in multi-male, multi-female troops with stable female lineages and seasonal mating. Their flexible diet includes fruit, seeds, leaves, bark and invertebrates. The famous Jigokudani animals enter hot springs in winter, but bathing is a learned tradition of that population, not universal behaviour. Troops also pass socially learned food-washing and handling techniques between generations (Wikipedia, general species account).

Description: Wildlife of Japan guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)