The Barbary Macaque (Macaca sylvanus) is also known as the Barbary Ape. It is a mammal and a primate. It is not an ape (apes have no tail) – it is a monkey (it has a tail). Macaque is pronounced makak.
The Barbary Macaque has yellow-brown to grey fur, with a lighter underbelly. It has an orange-brown cap. It has a dark-pink face with a prominent brow. Its tail is vestigial, meaning that it has become functionless – it is only about 2 centimetres (less than one inch) long.
Barbary Macaque
It grows to about 55 centimetres (22 inches) tall.
The Barbary Macaque is native to the Atlas and Rif Mountains in Morocco and Algeria in northwest Africa. It is also found on Gibraltar. It prefers forests, grasslands, scrublands, and rocky regions.
It eats plants, flowers, seeds, bark, worms, snails, spiders, scorpions, grasshoppers, termites, beetles, ants and other insects. Its predators include leopards and eagles.
The Barbary Macaque lives in colonies. Both males and females care for the young, even other parents care for another babies. This is called alloparenting.
It lives to about 25-30 years.
Barbary Macaque
Barbary Macaque
Barbary Macaque
Barbary Macaque
[Location of photographs: Tbilisi Zoo, Georgia]
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM