Toque Macaque

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iToque Macaque

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Family:	Cercopithecidae
Genus:	Macaca
Species:	M. sinica

Binomial name

Macaca sinica
(Linnaeus, 1771)

The Toque Macaque (Macaca sinica) is a redish-brown colored Old World monkey enedemic to Sri Lanka. It lives in troops, sometimes numbering up to 20, and has developed into three subspecies.

Troops of the Toque Macaque are a common sight in The Cultural Triangle, where many ancient temples are situated, hence earning them the nick name of "Temple Monkey".

There are two subspecies of Toque Macaque that have been described:

Dryzone Toque Macaque, Macaca sinica sinica
Wetzone Toque Macaque, Macaca sinica aurifrons

[edit] References

Eudey et al (2000). Macaca sinica. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1c v2.3)
Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 164. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.