Macacus Rhesus from Anatomical and zoological researches.

Anatomical and zoological researches: comprising an account of the zoological results of the two expeditions to western Yunnan in 1868 and 1875; and a monograph of the two cetacean genera, Platanista and Orcella.

Macacus Rhesus, Desm.

This is one primate that knows how to go with the flow. If Rhesus macaques cannot live in forests, they will live in grasslands. Commonly called Rhesus monkeys, these primates are found all over mainland Asia in an amazing variety of habitats. The only primate that is more broadly distributed is the human. Also, similar to humans, they can learn to recognize themselves in a mirror! Rhesus macaques are highly social, intelligent animals that communicate with each other using gestures and vocalizations. They live in large families called troops, and there may be anywhere from 20 to 200 members in a troop. That’s a lot of monkeys! The leadership of a troop is female. Female macaques stay in the troops in which they were born while the adult males leave their natal troops to join new ones. This adult female Rhesus macaque probably lives in China with 199 of her closest family members and friends.

Plate depicting stump-tailed macaque, female.