Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Assam macaque

Macaca assamensis

John McClelland, 1840

In Thai: ลิงอ้ายเงี๊ยะ

The Assam macaque or Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis) is a macaque of the Old World monkey family native to South and Southeast Asia. Since 2008, the species has been listed as "near threatened" by the IUCN, as it is experiencing significant declines due to hunting, habitat degradation, and fragmentation.

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 51 to 73.5 cm, and the tail is 15 to 30 cm long. Adult weight is 5 to 10 kg.

Distribution and habitat

The Macaca assamensis "Nepal population" is endemic to Nepal and likely in some way distinct from the two recognized subspecies, which occupy adjacent areas to the southeast and east of the range of M. assamensis. There is a gap in northeastern India between the two main population pockets, specifically between central Bhutan and the south side of the Brahmaputra River; the east bank of its upper course marks the division between the two recognized subspecies:

  • The eastern Assamese macaque, M. a. assamensis, occurs in Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura in northeastern India, into northern Myanmar, southeast through the Myanmar-Thailand border ranges as far as Chongkrong, to the upper Mekong in Tibet, into the provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Tibet and Yunnan in southwestern China, in Thateng in northern Laos, and Hoi Xuan in northern Vietnam;
  • The western Assamese macaque, M. a. pelops, is found from central Nepal through Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam and northernmost West Bengal in northern India, into central Bhutan and the Sundarbans in Bangladesh.

During surveys carried out in 1976, 1978, and 1984 in Nepal, Assam macaques were found to be patchily distributed along rivers in tropical and subtropical forests at altitudes from 200 to 1800 m. They are apparently absent from areas west of the Kaligandaki River. In India, they live in tropical and subtropical semievergreen forests, dry deciduous and montane forests, from the sea level to altitudes of 4000 m. They usually inhabit hill areas above 1000 m, but in the wetter east they may occur even in the lowlands, and frequent areas that only marginally reach this altitude. In Laos and Vietnam, they prefer high altitudes, usually above 500 m. In forests on limestone karst, they occur in much lower elevations.

Ecology and behaviour

Assam macaques are diurnal, and at times both arboreal and terrestrial. They are omnivorous and feed on fruits, leaves, invertebrates and cereals.

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 1 km2, and an average group size of 13.93 individuals.

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 113 km2. 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.

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, hybridization with adjacent species poses a threat to some populations.

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.

This article uses material from Wikipedia released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike Licence 3.0. Eventual photos shown in this page may or may not be from Wikipedia, please see the license details for photos in photo by-lines.

Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Primates
Family
Cercopithecidae
Genus
Macaca
Species
Macaca assamensis

Common names

  • German:
    • Assam-Makak
    • Bergrhesus
  • English:
    • Assamese macaque
    • Assam macaque
  • Spanish: Macaca del Himalaya
  • French: Macaque D' Assam
  • Italian: Macaco dell'Assam
  • Dutch:
    • Assammakaak
    • Bergresusaap
  • Swedish: Assammakak
  • Thai: ลิงอ้ายเงี๊ยะ

Subspecies

  • Macaca assamensis assamensis, John M'Clelland, 1840

    Common name: Eastern Assamese macaque

    Range: Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura in northeastern India, into northern Myanmar, southeast through the Myanmar-Thailand border ranges as far as Chongkrong, to the upper Mekong in Tibet, into the provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Tibet and Yunnan in southwestern China, in Thateng in northern Laos, and Hoi Xuan in northern Vietnam

  • Macaca assamensis pelops, Brian Houghton Hodgson, 1840

    Common name: Western Assamese macaque

    Range: Central Nepal through Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam and northernmost West Bengal in northern India, into central Bhutan and the Sundarbans in Bangladesh

Synonyms

  • Macaca coolidgei, Wilfred Hudson Osgood (1932)
  • Macaca rhesosimilis, Philip Lutley Sclater (1872)
  • Macaca problematicus, John Edward Gray (1870)
  • Macaca sikimensis, Brian Houghton Hodgson (1867)
  • Macaca macclellandii, John Edward Gray (1846)

Conservation status

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Photos

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Macaca assamensis, Assam macaque
Macaca assamensis, Assam macaque
Macaca assamensis, Assam macaque
Macaca assamensis, Assam macaque
Macaca assamensis, Assam macaque
Macaca assamensis, Assam macaque
Macaca assamensis - Erawan National Park

Range Map

Distribution map of Assam macaque, Macaca assamensis in Thailand
  • Doi Inthanon National Park
  • Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park
  • Doi Phu Kha National Park
  • Doi Suthep - Pui National Park
  • Erawan National Park
  • Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai
  • Nam Nao National Park
  • Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Phu Kradueng National Park
  • Tat Mok National Park
  • Tham Pha Tha Phon Non-Hunting Area
Range map of Macaca assamensis in Thailand