Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Adolescent males weighed an average of 6.09 kg (4.99-7.03 kg range, N=12).
Average body length (i.e., base of the tail to nose) for females was 49.67 cm;
tail length 51.33 cm and for males was 53.25 cm with a tail length of 57.75 cm.
The largest male trapped was 57 cm long with a tail of 65 cm. From a distance
the Mauritian macaques appear gray in color. On closer examination the dorsal
surfaces are gray with brown and black highlights on the top of the head, back
and dorsal surfaces of the legs, arms, and tail. Eyelids are “flashed” as part of
facial gestures. All individuals possess a vertical tuft or “top notch” of hair on
the head and older females have a white beard (
Figure 8.3 a
and b). Face and
body markings vary such that individuals can be discerned.
From the mid 1980s to the mid 1990s, the population of long-tailed macaques
on the whole island of Mauritius was estimated to be around 35,000-40,000
individuals (Sussman and Tattersall,
1986
; Bertram and Ginsberg,
1994
).
However, beginning sometime in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a large num-
ber of feral long-tailed macaques began being trapped and shipped to the UK
and the US for medical research. Export of these animals has continued to the
present, although many of the animals now being exported are the product of
controlled breeding populations (see below). Due to trapping for export and to
fill captive breeding colonies, the current population of monkeys in Mauritius
is unknown, though recent estimates indicate it may as low as 8,000 animals
(Guidi and Sussman,
2009
). Furthermore, we do not know the precise locations
or schedule of trapping activities and, thus, the present distribution and density
of the monkeys in various locations on the island needs to be reassessed. We
are currently working with three of the macaque research and breeding labora-
tories (Bioculture Mtius Ltd., Biodia Co. Ltd., and Noveprim Ltd.) to examine
the current status of the feral population. Until very recently, in the absence
of mammal competitors or of predators, and with their success in human dis-
turbed habitats, the monkeys had thrived in Mauritius.
Our comparative study of the Mauritian macaques
Sussman, his students, and colleagues have studied the macaques on Mauritius
over several different time periods. Sussman and Tattersall conducted three
separate short-term studies in 1977, 1984, and 2005. Sussman did a relatively
long-term study of the ecology and behavior of one group of macaques in
western Mautitius for 20 months in 1979-1980. Jamieson (
1998
) conducted
a twelve-month study on diet, foraging and social behavior at the same site in
1980-1981. Guidi did a preliminary reconnaissance study of the distribution
and status of the Mauritian monkey population in August 2009 in preparation
for her Ph.D. thesis research on the island macaques.