Arunachal macaque
The Arunachalmakak (Macaca munzala ) is a primate of the species of macaques within the family Cercopithecidae ( Cercopithecidae ). The species was first described scientifically in 2004.
Characteristics and lifestyle
Arunachalmakaken are built relatively stocky. Their fur is dark and the tail rather short, and the face is very dark. These primates are known only from a small area in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in the far north- eastern India. Their habitat are forests 2000-3500 meters above sea level. They are diurnal and stay mainly at the bottom. Like all macaques they feed mainly on fruits, in addition they also take leaves and small animals to him.
System
Systematically the Arunachalmakak within the macaque is classified in the sinica group. The closest relatives of this type are probably the Tibetmakak and Assam Macaque. From this it differs by the length of the tail, the coloring and marking his habits.
Arunachalmakaen and people
The species was first discovered in 2004 by Anindya Sinha and his colleagues and described in the journal " International Journal of Primatology " first time in 2005. Like most discoveries, this one was rather the result of chance. In the mapping of forest land on the northeast border of India with the People's Republic of China, a research group of the Nature Conservation Foundation in Mysore came across the so far known only to locals Art The specific epithet munzala is derived from the name of the local population of the species.
The last primate species found in India was the Goldlangur, which was discovered in 1955 in Assam. It's been over 100 years since a new Makakenart was discovered: the Mentawai macaque in Indonesia.
Since the macaque newly discovered living in an area that is heavily used by the high population density, the research group called on the government to put the 1,200 square kilometer area under protection. You could discover traces of 14 monkey troops of the species in the area. The total population is estimated to be less than 600 animals.