Arunachal Macaque
Encyclopedia
The Arunachal macaque a relatively large brown primate
with a comparatively short tail, is a macaque
native to Arunachal Pradesh
in north-eastern India
. Its species name comes from Munzala ("monkey of the deep forest") as it was called by the Dirang Monpa tribe. It was discovered as a new taxon in 1997 by noted primatologist of north-east India Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury but he thought it to be a new subspecies of Tibetan or Pere David's macaque. It was described as a new species in 2004, when a group of scientists from the Nature Conservation Foundation
, India
reported it. It is the first species of macaque to have been discovered since 1903 when the Indonesia
n Pagai Island Macaque
was discovered. This monkey was reported on the basis of good quality photograph as holotype
. In 2011, some researchers suggested on the basis of morphological variation within the Assamese macaque, that it might be better treated as a subspecies.
Subsequently, it was also discovered in Bhutan where it was observed and photgraphed in Trashi Yangshi area in 2006.
The Arunchal macaque is compactly built and has a very dark face. It lives at high altitudes, between 2000 m and 3500 m, making it one of the highest-dwelling primates. It belongs to the sinica species-group of macaques along with the Assamese macaque (M. assamensis), the Tibetan macaque
(M. thibetana), the bonnet macaque
(M. radiata) and the toque macaque
(M. sinica).
The Arunchal macaque is apparently physically similar to the Assam and Tibetan macaques, while genetically closely related to the bonnet macaque of southern India. This is probably the result of convergent evolution
where organisms evolve similar physical features due to similar environmental selection pressure while genetically they may have different origins. However, its full specific status is not beyond doubt and further research might turn it out to be a new subspecies of Assamese or Tibetan macaques.
This monkey is severely persecuted in some parts of its known distribution by locals retaliating against crop raiding. Recent surveys suggest that this species may be highly endangered in some parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
with a comparatively short tail, is a macaque
Macaque
The macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. - Description :Aside from humans , the macaques are the most widespread primate genus, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan and, in the case of the barbary macaque, to North Africa...
native to Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
in north-eastern India
North-East India
Northeast India refers to the easternmost region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States, Sikkim, and parts of North Bengal...
. Its species name comes from Munzala ("monkey of the deep forest") as it was called by the Dirang Monpa tribe. It was discovered as a new taxon in 1997 by noted primatologist of north-east India Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury but he thought it to be a new subspecies of Tibetan or Pere David's macaque. It was described as a new species in 2004, when a group of scientists from the Nature Conservation Foundation
Nature Conservation Foundation
The Nature Conservation Foundation is a non-governmental wildlife conservation and research organization based in Mysore, India. They promote the use of science for wildlife conservation in India.-History:The organization was founded in 1996...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
reported it. It is the first species of macaque to have been discovered since 1903 when the Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n Pagai Island Macaque
Pagai Island Macaque
The Pagai Island macaque , also known as the Pagai macaque or Bokkoi, is an Old World monkey that is endemic to the Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra. It is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List due to its ever-shrinking habitat. It formerly included the overall darker M...
was discovered. This monkey was reported on the basis of good quality photograph as holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
. In 2011, some researchers suggested on the basis of morphological variation within the Assamese macaque, that it might be better treated as a subspecies.
Subsequently, it was also discovered in Bhutan where it was observed and photgraphed in Trashi Yangshi area in 2006.
The Arunchal macaque is compactly built and has a very dark face. It lives at high altitudes, between 2000 m and 3500 m, making it one of the highest-dwelling primates. It belongs to the sinica species-group of macaques along with the Assamese macaque (M. assamensis), the Tibetan macaque
Tibetan macaque
The Tibetan macaque , also known as the Chinese stump-tailed macaque or Milne-Edwards' macaque, is found from eastern Tibet east to Guangdong and north to Shaanxi in China and has recently been reported from north-eastern India. This species lives in subtropical forests at altitude that range from...
(M. thibetana), the bonnet macaque
Bonnet Macaque
The bonnet macaque is a macaque endemic to southern India. Its distribution is limited by the Indian Ocean on three sides and the Godavari and Tapti Rivers along with a related competing species of rhesus macaque in the north....
(M. radiata) and the toque macaque
Toque Macaque
The toque macaque is a reddish-brown coloured Old World monkey endemic to both Sri Lanka, where it is locally known as the 'Rilewa' or 'Rilawa'...
(M. sinica).
The Arunchal macaque is apparently physically similar to the Assam and Tibetan macaques, while genetically closely related to the bonnet macaque of southern India. This is probably the result of convergent evolution
Convergent evolution
Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.The wing is a classic example of convergent evolution in action. Although their last common ancestor did not have wings, both birds and bats do, and are capable of powered flight. The wings are...
where organisms evolve similar physical features due to similar environmental selection pressure while genetically they may have different origins. However, its full specific status is not beyond doubt and further research might turn it out to be a new subspecies of Assamese or Tibetan macaques.
This monkey is severely persecuted in some parts of its known distribution by locals retaliating against crop raiding. Recent surveys suggest that this species may be highly endangered in some parts of Arunachal Pradesh.