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Pig Tail macaque

Macaca nemestrina

Photo by SeanWeekly
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Pigtail macaque infants are born black and as they mature, their pelage changes to the adult coloration. The fur on the top of their heads is dark brown or black and grows in a pattern that makes them look like there is a depression in the center of the top their heads.

Habitat:

Pigtail macaques have a wide range throughout Southeast Asia.
The Pig-tailed macaque is listed as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Notes:

This Picture was taken in Phuket last month, A man approached us at an elepephant sanctuary carrying this tiny baby monkey with a chain around its neck. He passed it to my partner (in the picture) to hold whilst he went to the bathroom??? We then asked him when he got back why he has the monkey. He replied it was his friends pet, and that he was looking after it for him. His friend supposedly trains these monkeys up to collect coconuts from the tops of the palm trees. He assured me the monkey was very well looked after. I must admit he was a very cute monkey, very lovable and did look well treated.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (9)

Wow. I can see I have some catching up to do here.... going through your whole set right now.
you gotta admit, it could be the most effective way to pick coconuts. it does take months for the monkeys to learn how to properly twist the coconuts off the trees.
Clement you was close thanks for the help. Laura spot on with the ID thank you so much. I have now been reading up on these guys and have learnt a lot already. He was quite a happy guy but very very tired. He had not been used for coconut collection yet until he was a bit older. Thanks again :)
I read that pigtail macaques are used by coconut farmers... here's a picture of a young one, it has that black patch in the middle of the head like this one: http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/mammals/Primates/Cercopithecidae/Macaca/Macaca-nemestrina.html Poor little thing, he doesn't look very happy. I know I'm putting human emotions to him, but he does look worn out!
If memory serves me right, macaque monkeys are used to harvest coconuts. this one looks young but i would say maybe a Toque macaque?
Yeah I guess you are right I have not captured his best look. He was very young only about 2 months If I am not wrong. So I think this is his tired look.

Spotted for Missions

Photographed
PublishedOctober 25, 2011

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