Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Primates
- Family
- Cercopithecidae
- Genus
- Macaca
Habitat
This species inhabits montane forests in the eastern Himalayas, specifically in Arunachal Pradesh, India, at elevations between 2,000 and 3,000 meters. They prefer dense subtropical and temperate forests with bamboo, rhododendrons, and conifers, where they can find cover and food sources.
Diet
Arunachal macaques primarily eat fruits, leaves, buds, and seeds, supplemented by insects and occasionally small vertebrates. They forage in groups during the day, using their cheek pouches to carry food, and show a preference for ripe fruits when available.
Behavior
They live in multi-male, multi-female troops of 10-30 individuals, exhibiting a hierarchical social structure with dominant males leading. Arunachal macaques are diurnal and primarily arboreal, spending much of their time in trees, and they communicate through vocalizations, facial expressions, and grooming to maintain social bonds.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status is Endangered, with population trends declining due to habitat loss from deforestation and infrastructure development, as well as hunting pressure.