The Assam macaque ( Macaca assamensis) or Assamese macaque is a macaque of the Old World monkey family native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. Since 2008, it has been listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, as it is experiencing significant declines due to poaching, habitat degradation, and fragmentation.[
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Characteristics
The Assam macaque has a yellowish-grey to dark brown pelage. The facial skin is dark brownish to purplish. The head has a dark fringe of hair on the cheeks directed backwards to the ears. The hair on the crown is parted in the middle. The shoulders, head and arms tend to be paler than the hindquarters, which are greyish. The tail is well-haired and short. Head-to-body-length measures , and the tail is long. Adult weight is .[Françis, C. M. (2008) A field guide to the mammals of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers. ]
Distribution and habitat
In Nepal, the Assam macaque occurs east of the Kali Gandaki river at elevations of .[ ] In Laos and Vietnam, it prefers elevations above . It usually inhabits hilly areas above , but in the wetter east it also occurs in the lowlands below this elevation. In limestone karst forests, it also occurs at lower elevations.[
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Ecology and behaviour
Assam macaques are diurnal animal, and at times both arboreal and terrestrial. They are omnivorous and feed on , leaves, and .[
In Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, 15 groups were recorded in 2002 comprising 209 individuals. The population had a group density of 1.11 individuals per , and an average group size of 13.93 individuals.][Chetry, D., Medhi, R., Biswas, J., Das, D. and Bhattacharjee, P. C. (2003). Nonhuman primates in the Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India. International Journal of Primatology 24(2): 383–388.]
During a survey in Nepal's Langtang National Park in 2007, a total of 213 Assamese macaques were encountered in 9 groups in the study area of . Troop sizes varied between 13 and 35 individuals, with a mean troop size of 23.66 individuals, and comprised 31% adult females, 16% adult males, and their young of various ages. They preferred maize kernals, followed by potato tubers, but also raided fields with wheat, buckwheat, and millet.[Regmi, G. R., Kandel, K. (2008). Population Status, Threats and Conservation Measures of Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis ) in Langtang National Park, Nepal . A final report submitted to Primate Society of Great Britain, UK.]
Threats
The threats to this species' habitat include selective logging and various forms of anthropogenic development and activities, alien invasives, hunting and trapping for sport, medicine, food, and the pet trade. Additionally, Cross-breeding with adjacent species poses a threat to some populations.[Molur, S., Brandon-Jones, D., Dittus, W., Eudey, A., Kumar, A., Singh, M., Feeroz, M. M., Chalise, M., Priya, P. and Walker, S. (2003). Status of South Asian Primates: Conservation Assessment and Management Plan Report . Workshop Report, 2003. Zoo Outreach Organization/CBSG-South Asia, Coimbatore, India.]
Conservation
Macaca assamensis is listed in CITES Appendix II. It is legally protected in all countries of occurrence. For the populations in India, the species is listed under Schedule II, part I of the Indian Wildlife Act.[
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