Cyber Flash Cards

10 of the most well-known primate species

#6

what is thIS PRIMATE'S common name?
RHESUS MACAQUE
What is the scientific name?
Macaca mulatta
​WHAT KIND OF PRIMATE IS THIS?
MONKEY
Where do they live?
Rhesus macaques range in geographic distribution from Afghanistan to the Pacific coast of China­­, including India, Bhutan, Laos, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, and Pakistan. They boast the largest native range of any other nonhuman primate species.
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Asia
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Where rhesus macaques live. Map: Chermundy & IUCN/Creative Commons
New world or old world?
OLD WORLD
fascinating facts
  • Clever, adaptable, resilient, and tough— rhesus macaques are unthreatened by most disturbances
  • From semi-deserts to mountain, from forests to cities, and everywhere in between, rhesus macaques are survivors
  • Their resilience is exploited when they are used as human models in research
  • Nature rewards them for their versatility; why do we punish them for it?
What threatens their future?
Despite the many disturbances caused by human activities—like deforestation and land conversion—that have brought other species to the brink of extinction, rhesus macaques have adapted well and even thrive. More and more are being displaced and find themselves in or close to urban areas. Those that live near temples can be revered and fed by devotees, but in general, they are not welcome by humans because they destroy gardens, pillage fruit trees, and raid crops. Regular conflicts consequently occur, which often result in the beating and killing of monkeys and severe scratches or bites to humans.

The most significant threat they face is being abducted from their homes for laboratory or biomedical research purposes. Due to their anatomical and physiological closeness to humans, they are the nonhuman primate of choice on which to conduct research on human and animal health-related topics.
​WHAT IS their CONSERVATION STATUS?
LEAST CONCERN
What Does this Conservation Status mean?
Least Concern (LC) = Lowest risk.

​They are widespread and abundant.
​However all nonhuman primates are threatened by habitat loss.
Any species categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable is considered by conservation scientists to be a threatened species
​HERE'S A SNAPSHOT AND THE SPECIES' PROFILE
Click or tap on the graphic to enlarge it
​LEARN MORE ABOUT Rhesus Macaques
Go to the rhesus macaque Primate Species Profiles page
are rhesus macaques good pets?
NO
  1. Rhesus macaques are intelligent, tough, and independent. As they mature, their needs cannot be satisfied in human homes.
  2. To become pets, rhesus macaques are stolen from their mothers as babies. As a result, they do not develop normally emotionally.
  3. Monkeys are never domesticated. They always remain wild. 
  4. Caged monkeys are very unhappy and frustrated. They are likely to resist confinement. They are quick and cause damaging bites and scratches.
  5. Many locations have strict regulations that prohibit trading in or keeping monkeys are pets.
  6. Rhesus macaques belong with other rhesus macaques in southeast Asia. They and their habitats must be protected, not exploited.
#PrimatesAreNotPets
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​Common names are not officially defined. They are based on everyday conversational language and may differ by country, region, profession, community, or other factors. As a result, it is not unusual for a species to have multiple common names.

Scientific names, on the other hand, are standardized and constant. They are Latinized and rule-bound by a formal naming system called binominal nomenclature. Scientific names prevent misidentification. They typically only change if a species is officially redesignated.
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The biological order of Primates is divided into these classifications:​
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​​New World monkeys are native to Central and South America.

Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia.
Learn about the differences between New World monkeys and Old World monkeys
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  • ​Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining.
  • Extinct in the Wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity.
  • Critically Endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
  • Near Threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
  • Least Concern (LC) – Widespread and abundant.
  • Data Deficient (DD) – Not enough data to assess the species' risk of extinction.
  • Not Evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated.
Learn more about ​Conservation Statuses
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