The Lion-Tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) is an endangered monkey. It is a primate mammal. It is also known as the Wanderoo.
The female Lion-Tailed Macaque is pregnant for about 6 months, before giving birth to one live young. The mother and the father take care of the baby, especially the mother.
It lives in social groups of 10-20 individuals. Other females in the group will also help with the care of the young. This is called allomothering.
The Lion-Tailed Macaque has black hair and a silver mane surrounding its head. It has a black hairless face. Its tail has a black tuft of hair at its tip. The baby Lion-Tailed Macaque has a lighter face, with dark stripes on its forehead.
It grows to 42-61 centimetres (16-24 inches) in length. Its tail measures about 25 centimetres (10 inches) long.
The Lion-Tailed Macaque is native to the western Ghats in South India. It prefers rain forests. It is a good climber and lives most of the time in trees – therefore it is arboreal.
It is diurnal, active during the day. It feeds on fruit, leaves, buds, insects, and small animals.
Its life expectancy in the wild is about 20 years.
Location of photograph: Paris Zoo, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM