# Macaques (*Macaca*)

Macaques are playful monkeys that live in groups. They are very smart and can use tools to find food. You might see them swinging in trees or grooming each other!

- **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate
- **Habitat:** Forests
- **Also known as:** Monkey

![Macaques](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bonnet_macaque_%28Macaca_radiata%29_Photograph_By_Shantanu_Kuveskar.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Shantanu Kuveskar, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bonnet_macaque_%28Macaca_radiata%29_Photograph_By_Shantanu_Kuveskar.jpg)

## Appearance

The Macaques are medium-sized monkeys with strong, stocky bodies and varying tail lengths, from long to almost none. Their fur can be brown, gray, or black, often with bare skin on their faces and bottoms. They stand out with their powerful build and often expressive faces.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Primates
- **Family:** Cercopithecidae
- **Genus:** Macaca

## Interesting facts

- Macaques in Japan sometimes have snowball fights just for fun in winter!
- One species lives further north than any other non-human primate, surviving snow!
- Some macaques can even swim and dive deep to find food in water!
- They use over 20 different sounds and many facial expressions to communicate!

## Special abilities

- **Agile Climber:** Macaques can climb trees with amazing speed and balance because of their strong limbs and gripping hands.
- **Tool User:** Macaques can use simple tools like stones to crack open nuts or shellfish, showing smart problem-solving.
- **Social Learner:** Macaques learn complex behaviors by watching others, helping them adapt quickly to new environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 40-75 cm
- **Weight:** 4-18 kg
- **Lifespan:** 15-30 years
- **Speed:** 30 km/h
- **Litter Size:** 1-2
- **Gestation:** 160-190 days

## Diet & Feeding

Macaques are omnivores, eating everything from juicy fruits to tiny insects and leaves.

- **Primary Foods:** Fruits, Leaves, Insects, Seeds, Small Invertebrates, Bird Eggs
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Tiger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tiger) (*Panthera tigris*) — Apex predators sometimes hunt macaques for food.
- **Eats:** Sacred Fig (*Ficus religiosa*) — Macaques frequently eat the fruits and leaves from these trees.
- **Hunts:** [Indian Cobra](https://www.snappit.app/explore/indian-cobra) (*Naja naja*) — Some macaque species are known to bravely prey on dangerous snakes.
- **Depends on:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — Many macaques now rely on human-provided food sources.

## Collections

- [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals)

## Safety

**Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate

Always watch macaques from a distance; they can be curious and may grab things.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Macaques?

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 Macaques?

40-75 cm

### How much does Macaques weigh?

4-18 kg

### How long does Macaques live?

15-30 years

### How fast can Macaques move?

30 km/h

### What does Macaques eat?

Macaques are omnivores, eating everything from juicy fruits to tiny insects and leaves.

### Where is Macaques usually found?

Forests

### How does Macaques hunt?

Foraging

## Where to spot

- [Zoologická zahrada Děčín - Pastýřská stěna](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologick-zahrada-d-n-past-sk-st-na) — Ústí nad Labem Region, CZ · Zoo
- [Drusillas Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/drusillas-park) — England, GB · Zoo
- [Monkey Jungle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monkey-jungle) — Florida, US · Zoo
- [Monkey World](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monkey-world) — England, GB · Zoo
- [Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wales-ape-and-monkey-sanctuary) — Wales, GB · Zoo
- [Trentham Monkey Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/trentham-monkey-forest) — England, GB · Zoo

[View all places to see Macaques](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/macaques)

## 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*)

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Source: [Macaques: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/macaques)