# Barbary Macaque (*Macaca sylvanus*) The Barbary Macaque is a playful monkey with a fluffy coat and a friendly face. They love to climb trees and play with their friends in the wild! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Barbary Ape ![Barbary Macaque](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Portrait_of_a_father.jpg&width=800) Photo: Karyn Sig, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_a_father.jpg) ## Appearance The Barbary Macaque has thick, yellowish-brown fur covering its body, often appearing grizzled, with a paler underside. It features a distinctive short, stumpy tail and a dark, hairless face with prominent brow ridges. Their robust build helps them navigate rocky mountain terrain. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Cercopithecidae - **Genus:** Macaca ## Interesting facts - Barbary Macaques have a surprising love for playing in the snow! - Males often "babysit" other males' infants to build trust and friendships. - Their cheek pouches can store lots of food for later snacks! - They are the only wild monkeys living free in Europe, on Gibraltar! ## Special abilities - **Social Navigators:** Barbary Macaque has complex social structures that help them cooperate to find food and raise young effectively. - **Temperature Adapters:** Barbary Macaque possesses thick fur that helps them survive cold mountain winters, unique among macaques. - **Food Finders:** Barbary Macaque can forage widely, using their keen senses to locate varied plant matter and insects across different terrains. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 55-70 cm - **Weight:** 10-15 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-25 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 165-170 days ## Diet & Feeding These clever monkeys are omnivores, eating almost anything from plants to insects they find! - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Fruits, Roots, Insects, Seeds, Small invertebrates - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Golden Jackal (*Canis aureus*) — A potential predator, especially for young macaques. - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Young macaques are occasionally prey for these raptors. - **Depends on:** Atlas Cedar (*Cedrus atlantica*) — Relies on these trees for shelter, food, and habitat. - **Eats:** [Olive Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/olive-tree) (*Olea europaea*) — Consumes fruits and leaves from wild olive trees. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always watch from a distance and never try to feed wild monkeys. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Barbary Macaque? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Barbary Macaque? 55-70 cm ### How much does Barbary Macaque weigh? 10-15 kg ### How long does Barbary Macaque live? 20-25 years ### How fast can Barbary Macaque move? 25 km/h ### What does Barbary Macaque eat? These clever monkeys are omnivores, eating almost anything from plants to insects they find! ### Where is Barbary Macaque usually found? Forests ### How does Barbary Macaque hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Woburn Safari Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/woburn-safari-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/southern-nevada-zoological-botanical-park) — Nevada, US · Zoo - [NaturZoo Rheine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturzoo-rheine) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo - [Thüringer Zoopark Erfurt](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/thuringer-zoopark-erfurt) — Thüringen, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Köthen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-kothen) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Wild- und Erlebnispark Daun](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wildpark-daun) — Rheinland-Pfalz, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Barbary Macaque](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/barbary-macaque) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Barbary Macaque: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barbary-macaque)