The Formosan rock macaque, also known as the Taiwan macaque, is native to the temperate forests in the mountains of Taiwan. They are the only non-human primates native to Taiwan. The species also exists in parts of Japan due to a series of both deliberate and accidental introductions that occurred in the mid-20th century.
Formosan rock macaques sport a brown coat of fur in the summer and a gray coat in the winter. They have white or gray fur covering their chests. Their faces are naked and pink with large eyes and a long, flat nose. The macaque’s jaw is built for a diverse diet, featuring four large canine teeth and several strong molars.
Formosan rock macaques are one of the 45 species of monkeys found in the subfamily Cercopithecinae. This group, consisting of macaques, baboons, and vervets, can be characterized by their cheek pouches. Monkeys with cheek pouches can quickly take large amounts of food, store them in their cheeks, and retreat to a safe place to eat without having to worry about predators or thieves. Although this adaptation did not come about with humans in mind, cheek pouches are particularly useful when hurriedly raiding human houses or trying to get as much food as possible from a tourist.
These macaques have an incredibly varied diet. Fruits make up about half of their diet. Seeds, leaves, and insects also make up significant parts of their diet. Formosan rock macaques forage from up to 300 different plants. They have also been known to raid farms and houses for foods such as sweet potatoes and peanuts.
Credit : New England Primate Conservancy
Picture Credit : Google
