# Lion-tailed Macaque (*Macaca silenus*) The Lion-tailed Macaque is a special monkey with a fluffy black mane that looks like a lion's! They are very playful and live in groups called troops in the forests of India. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Lion-tailed Macaque](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lion-tailed_macaque_by_N._A._Naseer.jpg&width=800) Photo: N.A.Nazeer, CC BY-SA 2.5 in · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lion-tailed_macaque_by_N._A._Naseer.jpg) ## Appearance The Lion-tailed Macaque has glossy black fur across its body, with a striking silver-white mane that frames its dark face. Its distinctive tail is short and ends in a black tuft, resembling a lion's tail. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Cercopithecidae - **Genus:** Macaca ## Interesting facts - Every night, entire macaque groups sleep high in a different tree for safety. - Their babies cling tightly to their mother's belly for many months after birth. - These rare monkeys live only in the rainforests of Southern India! - They will often crack open hard seeds using their strong teeth to get to the tasty kernel! ## Special abilities - **Forest Acrobat:** Lion-tailed Macaques can leap and swing through high canopy trees because of their strong limbs that help them find food and escape danger. - **Roaring Communicator:** Lion-tailed Macaques have a loud, deep 'coo-call' that helps them signal their group members and warn others about predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 45-60 cm - **Weight:** 3-10 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-30 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 165-180 days ## Diet & Feeding These clever monkeys are omnivores, enjoying a mix of forest fruits, leaves, and insects! - **Primary Foods:** Fruits, Leaves, Insects, Seeds, Flowers, Small Vertebrates - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Leopards are a primary natural predator. - **Eaten by:** Indian Rock Python (*Python molurus*) — Large pythons can ambush young macaques. - **Eats:** Cluster Fig (*Ficus racemosa*) — Figs are a key part of their diet. ## 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. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [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:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and never try to touch wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lion-tailed 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 Lion-tailed Macaque? 45-60 cm ### How much does Lion-tailed Macaque weigh? 3-10 kg ### How long does Lion-tailed Macaque live? 20-30 years ### How fast can Lion-tailed Macaque move? 25 km/h ### What does Lion-tailed Macaque eat? These clever monkeys are omnivores, enjoying a mix of forest fruits, leaves, and insects! ### Where is Lion-tailed Macaque usually found? Forests ### How does Lion-tailed Macaque hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [NaturZoo Rheine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturzoo-rheine) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo ## 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: [Lion-tailed Macaque: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lion-tailed-macaque)