Rhesus Macaque
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The Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) or rhesus monkey, the widest ranging of all primates, inhabits most of the ecosystems in South Asia, including residential areas.
Their wide range, attests to their adaptability. They are omnivores that consume almost anything in their territory, including raids on garbage cans.
Their social system is built on a female philopatry platform with multimales joining and dispersing from the group over the course of their lives.
On average, males do not exceed two feet in height or twenty pounds in weight. In both cases they are slightly larger than the average female.
Their large range ensures a stable overall population, although they are considered pests in some areas and actively hunted.
Depending on the type of filter used to approach the topic of monkey experimentation in biomedical research, the Rhesus Monkey is either famous or infamous for being the experimental monkey of choice.
A captive population was released in Central Florida and has now established a small breeding population. Local residents have thus far preferred to allow them sanctuary because of their value as a tourist draw.
© 2010 Patricia A. Michaels.