1. Profile (Picture)
2. Tidbits
3. Status and Trends (IUCN Status, Countries Where
Currently Found, Population Estimates, History of Distribution, Threats and Reasons
for Decline)
4. Data on Biology and Ecology (Weight, Habitat, Age to Maturity, Gestation
Period, Diet, Behavior, Social
Organization, Density and Range, Minimum Viable
Population)
5. References
Pictures: Lion-tailed Macaque #1 (32 Kb JPEG); Lion-tailed Macaque #2 (22 Kb JPEG) (Arkive)
The lion-tailed macaque weighs 7 - 15 kg (15 - 33 lb). It is found in tropical
evergreen forest, where it is omnivorous and diurnal and primarily arboreal. Groups of lion-tailed macaques range from 4
- 34 individuals. They usually contain about 10 - 20 individuals, including 1 - 3 adult
males.
The lion-tailed macaque has never been common. By 1971 it was known to occur only in the
southern third of India, generally in the Western
Ghats. In 1984 it was thought to occur in scattered locations in Karnataka, Kerala and
Tamil Nadu. The major reason for its decline appears to have been habitat loss due to the
spread of agriculture and teak, coffee, tea and other plantations. Formerly it was
extensively captured for the pet trade, zoos and research, as well as for use in Oriental
medicine.
*** The lion-tailed macaque seems to be unable to adapt to human settlement; for example, it apparently doesn't travel through plantations or use them as habitat.
2004: Occurs in India (Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu) (IUCN 2004).
[Note: Figures given are for wild populations only.]
The lion-tailed macaque has never been common. By 1971 it was known to occur only in the southern third of India, generally in the Western Ghats. In 1984 it was thought to occur in scattered locations in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, from the northern Kanara district of Karnataka in the north to the Ashambu Hills near the tip of the Indian subcontinent in the south (Groombridge 1984). The population is severely fragmented (IUCN 2002).
The major reason for its decline appears to have been habitat loss due to the spread of agriculture and teak, coffee, tea and other plantations. Formerly it was extensively captured for the pet trade, zoos and research, as well as for use in Oriental medicine.
The lion-tailed macaque weighs 7 - 15 kg (15 - 33 lb).
The lion-tailed macaque is found in tropical evergreen forest.
The lion-tailed macaque is found in both the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka Biodiversity Hotspot (Cons. Intl. 2005) and the Western Ghats Moist Forests Global 200 Ecoregion. (Olson & Dinerstein 1998, Olson & Dinerstein 1999)
5 years (female); 8 years (male).
Gestation in all macaques is about 5.5 months.
The lion-tailed macaque is omnivorous.
The lion-tailed macaque is mainly arboreal, although it does occasionally descend to the ground. All macaques are primarily diurnal.
Groups of lion-tailed macaques range from 4 - 34 individuals. They usually contain about 10 - 20 individuals, including 1 - 3 adult males.
Density:
- A population density of 0.25 individuals/sq km (0.65 individuals/sq mi) has been reported.
Range:
- Estimated group range: 1 - 2 sq km (2.6 - 5.2 sq mi) over a 1 - 2 month period; 5 sq km (13 sq mi) over a year.
- One group had a core area of 300 hectares (750 acres) that was rarely entered by other groups.
Minimum viable population density: 3.8 individuals/sq km (10 individuals/sq mi) (Silva & Downing 1994).
Arkive, AZA 1998, Burton & Pearson 1987, Choudhury 1988, Cons. Intl. 2005, Curry-Lindahl 1972, Groombridge 1984, Hill 1971, IUCN 1994, IUCN 1996, IUCN 2000, IUCN 2003a, IUCN 2004, Macdonald 1984, Nowak & Paradiso 1983, Olson & Dinerstein 1998, Olson & Dinerstein 1999, Oryx 1979c, Oryx 1981b, Silva & Downing 1994
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By: Paul Massicot; Last modified: June 4, 2005; © 1999 -
2005 Animal Info
