Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
reported to have a population of approximately 3,000 macaques spread across
three islands in the Nicobars (Umapathy
et al
.,
2003
). This data may be out-
dated though as there has been no complete assessment of their loss following
the 2004 tsunami (Umapathy, pers. Comm.). The Nicobar macaque is consid-
ered a crop pest, but is also listed on Schedule 1 of India's Wildlife Protection
Act (Anonymous,
1993
). On the island of Simeulue,
M. f. fusca
is reported to
have a large population of at least 50,000 individuals, and is also considered
a crop raider (Sugardjito
et al
.,
1989
). On Karimunjawa,
M.f. karimondjiwae
has a population of around 300 individuals that conflict with the local com-
munity (see Box 1.1). Other island populations have no data reported, and
M. f. atriceps
, for example, cannot be observed because they occur on a mili-
tary occupied island in Thailand (Malaivijitnond and Hamada,
2008
).
Intra-subspecific variation
A high level of morphological and genetic variation occurs within the core
subspecies,
M. f. fascicularis
. This high level of variation is greater than that
observed within any other macaque species (Fooden,
1995
,
2006
), which
raises questions about the accuracy and usefulness of current subspecies cat-
egorizations. Fooden's (
1995
) extensive research on morphological variation
showed that there is high diversity in head, body, and pelage characteristics
within
M. f. fascicularis
. The variation found within the core subspecies may
be most pronounced in Thailand, where there is a high level of morphological
difference between regional populations (Malavijitnond
et al
.,
2005
). Island
populations of
M. f. fascicularis
are also distinct, such as the Singaporean long-
tailed macaque, which tends to be darker, smaller, and have a longer tail-body
ratio (Schillaci,
et al
.,
2007
). Mangrove-dwelling macaques in Vietnam were
found to have different body size and tail-length measurements than monkeys
in Indonesia and are reported to have a characteristic “mohawk-like” hair crest
pattern (Son,
2003
). Studies suggest that the variation seen in body size and tail
length within
M. f. fascicularis
can be accounted for by Bergmann's rule, stating
body size increases with latitude, and Allen's rule, stating tail length decreases
with latitude (Aimi
et al
.,
1982
; Son,
2003
). The influence of Bergmann/Allen
rules can be seen within and between subspecies, although it does not account
for all variation observed and its predictions are not always supported (Fooden,
1995
; Fooden and Albrecht;
1993
; Schillaci
et al
.,
2007
). In addition, sexual
dimorphism in cranial size appears to vary across geographical regions within
the core area of
M. f. fascicularis
(Schillaci,
2010
). An anomalous morpho-
logical distinction is the yellow long-tailed macaques in Kosumpee Forest
Park in Thailand (Hamada
et al
.,
2005
), and there also appears to be distinct
