Toque

Macaque

K.P.M.P. Gunathilaka
 Content
1.Description
2.Distribution
3.Taxonomy
4.Social structure
5.Reproduction
6.Diet
7.Predators
8.Life expectancy
9.Conclusion
Description

The Toque Macaque is a commonly found monkey in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan
Toque Macaques (Macaca sinica) are the smallest species of Macaca, a golden
brown coloured monkey, endemic to Sri Lanka. Locally known as the “Rilawa”,
it is easily distinguished by the toque-shaped swirl of hair on the top of its head,
with the amount of hair on the top of the head being geographically variable
within their range.

In this diary, the question that we explore why they are endemic to Sri Lanka?
The hypothesis of ours for that question is because of the bio geography and
different climate zones in Sri Lanka. From this diary we try to get the answer for
this problem finally.

Experimental Procedure:-
 Daily, the toque macaques come to the fruit trees in the home garden.
 Observed their daily behaviors by giving fruits and food.
 Observed them by in the long destination to observe their behavior
properly.
 Observed them in the morning and the evening what had they done in that
periods?
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Macaca
Species: M. sinica

Distribution
M. s. sinica is found from the Vavuniya, Mannar, up to the lowlands of Anuradhapura,
Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, and Kurunegala along the arid zone of Monaragala, and Hambantota
districts.

M. s. aurifrons can be found sympatrically with subsp. sinica within intermediate regions of
the country, such as Kegalle, parts of Kurunegala. They are also found in south-western parts
of the island including Galle, and Matara districts, near to Kalu Ganga.

M. s. opisthomelas is recently identified as a separate subspecies. It can be found in the entire

south-western region of central hill, (bordered with Ratnapura) and Nuwara Eliya districts.
They can be seen around the Hakgala.

Taxonomy
The three recognized subspecies of toque macaques are:

∙ Dryzone toque macaque or Common toque macaque = Macaca sinica sinica ∙

Wetzone toque macaque or Pale-fronted toque macaque = Macaca sinica aurifrons ∙
Highland toque macaque or Hill-zone toque macaque = Macaca sinica opisthomelas
M. s. opisthomelas is similar to subsp. aurifrons, but has a long fur and contrasting golden
color in the anterior part of its brown cap.

The three subspecies can be identified through the orientation of their different hair patterns.

Social Structure
The social status is highly structured in toque macaques, where there prevails dominance
hierarchies among both males and females. A troop may consist of as few as 8 to as many as
40. When the troop becomes too large, social tension and aggression towards each other arise,
causing some individuals to flee from the troop. This is noticeable in adults and sub adults,
where a troop may consist largely of females. Newly appointed alpha males also show
aggressiveness towards females, causing the females to flee. There are sightings of severe
fights between individuals of the same troop and some get heavy wounds to cheeks, eyes, and
sometimes broken arms.

Reproduction
When in estrous, the female's perineum becomes reddish in color and swells. This change is a
signal to the males that she is ready to mate. There is an average of 18 month between births.
After a 5–6 month gestation period, female macaque give birth to a single offspring. Offspring
hold on to their mothers for about 2 months. During this time they learn survival techniques
and social skills critical for survival. The infants are born into their social classes based on
their mothers position in the troop. Young males are forced to abandon their troop when they
are about 6–8 years of age. This prevents in-breeding and ensures that the current alpha male
maintains his position in the troop. Leaving the troop is the only way a male can change his
social standing. If he has good social skills and is strong he may become an alpha male. A
single alpha male can father all of the troops' offspring.

Birth rarely occurs during the day or on the ground. During labor the female isolates herself
from the group (about 100 m). The mother stands bipedally during parturition and assists the
delivery with her hands. The infant is usually born 2 minutes after crowning. The infant can
vocalize almost immediately after birth; it is important for the mother and infant to recognize
each other's voices. Vocalization will be used to alert the mother of imminent danger, and can
assist in finding each other if separated.
After birth the mother licks the infant and orients it toward her breasts. She will resume
foraging behavior within 20 minutes after parturition. The mother also eats part of the
placenta, because it contains needed protein. The alpha female of the group asserts her power
by taking part of the placenta for herself to eat.
Diet
They are fond of eating drooping yellow clusters of flowers of Cassia fistula. They eat any
good thing making use of human detritus by going after plantains, pineapples, rice grains,
papaws, and mangoes. Even there are plenty of foods present in natural habitation, toque
macaques enjoy to take any food with little effort around human dwellings. They are
occasionally seen around houses near a forest patch, where they invade all the fruiting plants
in the day sessions and return to the forest cover in night. Because, these macaques have very
little fear for humans and their companions-the dogs.

Cheek pouches enable toque macaques to store enough food while eating fast. In the dry zone,
they are known to eat drupes of understory shrub Zizyphus, ripe fruits of Ficus, and Cordia
species. They occasionally eat many small animals ranging from small insects to mammals
like indian palm squirrels and Vandeleuria oleracea.

Predators
Wild cats (leopards and fishing cats) and Indian rock python are the main predators of this
species.

Life expectancy
The lifespan of toque macaques in the wild is about the same as in captivity, up to 35 years.
The expected lifespan in the wild is low due to high infant mortality rates. There is also
significant mortality among adolescent males when they venture off to join a different troop.
Once toque macaques have reached sexual maturity they will likely live to an old age.
(Fooden, 1979; Michael and Crook, 1973).

Conclusion
So in my conclusion, the bio geography and the different climate zones in Sri Lanka are the
reasons for the endemism of the toque macaque. It is our responsibility to protect these
creatures by not becoming endangered species.