Distribution and present status of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Laos and their ecological relationship with rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) - Monkeys on the Edge - page 82

These localities were popular for wildlife trade because of the frequent trans-
portation between these localities and cities and also to supply bushmeat to
workers there.
Geographic variation in relative tail length of rhesus macaques
Although tail lengths of long-tailed macaques could not be measured
because they were not accessible for measurement, they did not appear to
vary between individuals and localities, and were similar to those inhabit-
ing north-east Thailand (i.e., ca. 115 percent of crown-rump length). On the
other hand, relative tail length appeared to vary in rhesus macaques accord-
ing to habitat latitude. We measured tail and crown-rump lengths on pet and
free-ranging rhesus macaques in Laos (Hamada et al ., 2007 ; Hamada et al .,
in preparation). The relative tail length (standardized by crown-rump length,
percent) showed a significant negative geographical cline with latitude (r 2
= 0.791, n=10, p<0.01; Hamada et al ., in preparation). That is, northern
individuals tended to have relatively shorter tails, and southern individ-
uals had relatively longer tails. The tails of northern-most rhesus macaques
(20˚N or higher) were comparable in length to those of the eastern group of
rhesus macaques (i.e., China and vicinity, average 35.3 percent of crown-
rump length, Hamada et al ., 2006 ), those at middle latitude (18-16˚N) were
of the intermediate range of 45-55 percent, and those at lower latitude
(16-14.8˚N) were very long, in the range of 75-80 percent. Thus, the degree
of hybridization found in rhesus macaques was geographically clinal, mean-
ing that it depended on the distance from the long-tailed macaque range
(<15.2˚N).
Bushmeat Markets
At least four bushmeat markets were found along national routes, in
Bolikhamxay, Savannakhet, and Champasak Provinces along NRs-13 and 9,
in Attapeu Province along the newly constructed and asphalted NR connect-
ing Attapeu to Dakto, Kontum Province, Vietnam via Ban Xe Xou ( Figure
3.3 ) . Macaques were not found to be for sale in any of the markets visited
and therefore hunting for food does not appear to be a significant threat
to Laotian macaques. In contrast, rodents, ungulates (e.g., muntjacs), civ-
ets, fowls, lizards and turtles were frequently observed. It was reported that
non-human primates, mainly macaques and colobines, were less frequently
traded (i.e., once a week). Loris bones were found at traditional medicine