Toque Macaque
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Toque Macaque | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||||||||||||
| Conservation status | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Macaca sinica (Linnaeus, 1771) |
The Toque Macaque (Macaca sinica) is a reddish-brown coloured Old World monkey endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is locally known as the 'Rilewa' (hence 'Rillow' in the Oxford English Dictionary). It is named for the Toque shaped whorl of hair on its head, rather like the bonnet of the related Bonnet Macaque. It lives in troops, sometimes numbering up to 20, and has developed into three subspecies. It has a head and body length of 35-55cm, a tail length of 40-60cm and can weigh up to 8.4kg.
Troops of the Toque Macaque are a common sight in The Cultural Triangle, where many ancient temples are situated, hence earning them the nickname of "Temple Monkey".
There are two subspecies of Toque Macaque that have been described:
- Dryzone Toque Macaque, Macaca sinica sinica
- Wetzone Toque Macaque, Macaca sinica aurifrons
[edit] References
- Eudey et al (2000). Macaca sinica. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1c v2.3)
- Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 164. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
[edit] External links
Wikispecies has information related to:
- ARKive - images and movies of the toque macaque (Macaca sinica)
- BBC - Science & Nature - Animals - Toque macaque
- Wolfgang Dittus - A Toque Macaque researcher
 |
This primate-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
