# Toque macaque
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{{Short description|Species of Old World monkey}}
{{stack begin}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Toque macaque[{{MSW3 Groves|pages=164|id=12100562}}]
| image = Macaca sinica - 01.jpg
| image_caption = At [Yala National Park](/source/Yala_National_Park), [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka)
| status = EN
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = [{{cite iucn |author=Dittus, W. |author2=Watson, A.C. |date=2020 |title=''Macaca sinica'' |volume=2020 |article-number=e.T12560A17951229 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T12560A17951229.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}]
| genus = Macaca
| species = sinica
| authority = ([Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), 1771)
| range_map = Macaca sinica Range Map(Subspecies).png
| range_map_caption = {{leftlegend|#fe8166|Dry Zone Toque Macaque|outline=gray}}
{{leftlegend|#92ff66|Wet Zone Toque Macaque|outline|=gray}}
{{leftlegend|#7d81e8|Highland Toque Macaque|outline=gray}}
}}
thumb|3d model of skeleton
thumb|juvenile ''M. s. sinica''
[[File:Social grooming.jpg|alt=|thumb|[Allogrooming](/source/Allogrooming) between two toque macaques]]
{{stack end}}
The '''toque macaque''' ({{IPAc-en|t|ɒ|k|_|m|ə|ˈ|k|æ|k}}; '''''Macaca sinica''''') is a reddish-brown-coloured [Old World monkey](/source/Old_World_monkey) [endemic](/source/endemic) to [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka), where it is known as the or ''rilawa'' ([Sinhala](/source/Sinhalese_language): රිළවා), (hence the English word "rillow"). Its name refers to the whorl of hair at the crown of the head, reminiscent of a brimless [toque](/source/toque) cap.[{{Cite web |url=https://www.neprimateconservancy.org/toque-macaque.html |title=Toque macaque |website=New England Primate Conservancy|date=14 December 2021 }}]
==Taxonomy==
The generic name ''Macaca'' is from Portuguese ''macaco'', of unclear origin, while ''sinica'' means "of China," even though the species is not found there.[{{Cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=379GAQAAMAAJ&q=%22macaca+sinica+%22+china&pg=PA58 |title=Wildlife Review |date=February 9, 1993 |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service}}]
There are three recognized subspecies of toque macaques:[{{cite journal |title=Taxonomy and evolution of the ''sinica'' group of macaques: I. Species and subspecies accounts of ''Macaca sinica'' |year=1979 |last1=Fooden |first1=Jack |journal=Primates |volume=20 |pages=109–140 |s2cid=27742337 |doi=10.1007/BF02373832}}]
==Description==
With age, the face of females turns slightly pink. This is especially prominent in the subspecies ''M. s. sinica''.
==Distribution==
''M. s. sinica'' is found from the [Vavuniya](/source/Vavuniya), [Mannar](/source/Mannar_District) to the lowlands of [Anuradhapura](/source/Anuradhapura), [Polonnaruwa](/source/Polonnaruwa), [Puttalam](/source/Puttalam), and [Kurunegala](/source/Kurunegala); and along the arid zone of the [Monaragala](/source/Monaragala) and [Hambantota](/source/Hambantota) districts.
''M. s. aurifrons'' can be found sympatrically with the subspecies ''M. s. sinica'' within intermediate regions of the country in [Kegalle](/source/Kegalle) and parts of [Kurunegala](/source/Kurunegala). It is also found in south-western parts of the island in the [Galle](/source/Galle) and [Matara](/source/Matara%2C_Sri_Lanka) districts near [Kalu Ganga](/source/Kalu_Ganga).
''M. s. opisthomelas'' has recently been identified as a separate subspecies. It can be found in the entire south-western region of [Ratnapura](/source/Ratnapura) and in the [Nuwara Eliya](/source/Nuwara_Eliya) districts. It is also found around [Hakgala Botanical Garden](/source/Hakgala_Botanical_Garden) and other cold climatic montane forest patches.[{{cite book |author=Yapa, A. |author2=Ratnavira, G. |year=2013 |title=Mammals of Sri Lanka |publisher=Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka |location=Colombo |page=1012 |isbn=978-955-8576-32-8}}]
==Behaviour and ecology==
===Social structure===
Social status is highly structured in toque macaque troops and dominance hierarchies occur among both males and females. A troop may consist of eight to forty individuals. When the troop becomes too large, social tension and aggression towards each other rises, causing some individuals to leave. This is noticeable in adults and sub adults, where a troop may consist largely of females. Newly appointed alpha males show aggressiveness towards females, causing the females to leave the group. Fighting within the troop can cause serious injuries including broken arms.[
Young offspring of a troop's alpha female will typically receive better sustenance and shelter than their peers.][{{Cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/show/animal-babies-first-year-earth/ |title=Animal Babies: First Year on Earth |via=www.pbs.org}}]
===Reproduction===
[[File:Female Toque macaque with baby - (Harmony of Life).jpg|thumb|left|Female toque macaque with her baby in [Katagamuwa sanctuary](/source/Katagamuwa_sanctuary), Sri Lanka]]
When in estrous, the female's [perineum](/source/perineum) becomes reddish in color and swells. This signals to males that she is ready to mate. There is an average of 18 months between births. After a 5–6 month gestation period, the female will give birth to a single offspring. The baby will hold on to its mother for about 2 months. During this time the infant learns social skills critical for survival. The infant will inherit its social standing from its mother's position in the troop. Young males are forced to abandon their troop when they are about 6–8 years of age. This prevents inbreeding and ensures that the current alpha male maintains his position in the troop. Leaving the troop is the only way a male can change his social standing. If he has good social skills and is strong he may become an alpha male. A single alpha male can father all of the troops' offspring.[
Birth rarely occurs during the day or on the ground. During labor the female isolates herself from the group (about 100 m). The mother stands bipedally during parturition and assists the delivery with her hands. The infant is usually born 2 minutes after crowning. The infant can vocalize almost immediately after birth; it is important for the mother and infant to recognize each other's voices. Vocalization will be used to alert the mother of imminent danger, and can assist in finding each other if separated. After birth the mother licks the infant and orients it toward her breasts. She will resume foraging behavior within 20 minutes after parturition. The mother also eats part of the placenta, because it contains needed protein. The alpha female of the group asserts her power by taking part of the placenta for herself to eat.][{{cite journal |title=Observation of a birth among wild toque macaques (''Macaca sinica'') |journal=International Journal of Primatology |pages=235–242 |year =1989 |last1=Ratnayeke |first1=A. P.|last2=Dittus |first2=W. P. J. |volume=10 |issue=3 |s2cid=40473283 |doi=10.1007/BF02735202}}]
===Diet===
thumb|''Macaca sinica opisthomelas''
One study of toque macaques recorded a diet of 14% flowers, 77% fruits, 5% mushrooms, and 4% prey items. The preferred fruit species included ''[Ficus bengalensis](/source/Ficus_bengalensis)'', ''[Glenniea unijuga](/source/Glenniea_unijuga)'', ''[Schleichera oleosa](/source/Schleichera_oleosa)'', ''[Drypetes sepiaria](/source/Drypetes_sepiaria)'', ''[Grewia polygama](/source/Grewia_polygama)'', ''[Ficus amplissima](/source/Ficus_amplissima)'', and ''[Ficus retusa](/source/Ficus_retusa)''. It was found that mushrooms were much sought after during the wet season.[{{cite journal |author1=Hladik, C.M. |author2=Hladik, A. |year=1972 |title=Disponibilites alimentaires et domaines vitaux des primates a Ceylan |journal=La Terre et la Vie |volume=26 |pages=149–215 |doi=10.1007/BF02373832 |s2cid=27742337 |language=French}}]
Cheek pouches enable toque macaques to store food while eating fast. In the dry zone, they are known to eat [drupe](/source/drupe)s of the understory shrub ''[Zizyphus](/source/Zizyphus)'' and ripe fruits of ''[Ficus](/source/Ficus)'', and ''[Cordia](/source/Cordia)'' species. They occasionally eat small animals ranging from small insects to mammals like the [Indian palm squirrel](/source/Indian_palm_squirrel) and the [Asiatic long-tailed climbing mouse](/source/Asiatic_long-tailed_climbing_mouse).[
===Predators===
[Leopards](/source/Panthera_pardus) and [Indian rock pythons](/source/Python_molurus) are the main predators of this species.
Suspected or confirmed predators of toque macaques include [forest eagle owl](/source/forest_eagle_owl)s, [grey-headed fish eagle](/source/grey-headed_fish_eagle)s, [white-bellied sea eagle](/source/white-bellied_sea_eagle)s, and [Brahminy kite](/source/Brahminy_kite)s.][{{Cite book|title=Primates as prey: ecological, morphological and behavioral relationships between primate species and their predators|date=May 2000|author=D. L. Hart|publisher=Washington University Department of Anthropology}}]
==Conservation==
[[File:SL Bundala NP asv2020-01 img30.jpg|thumb|upright|''Macaca sinica'' in the [Bundala National Park](/source/Bundala_National_Park), Sri Lanka]]
The toque macaque is listed as [Endangered](/source/Endangered) by the [International Union for the Conservation of Nature](/source/International_Union_for_the_Conservation_of_Nature) (IUCN) due to habitat destruction and hunting, and also for the [pet trade](/source/pet_trade). Much of the original forested habitat of the toque macaque has been lost, between 1956 and 1993 50% of Sri Lanka's forest cover was destroyed. Plantations and fuel wood collection have been the main drivers of habitat lost.
Pushed out of forest habitat, toque macaques are considered a "menace" by farmers.[{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=August 7, 2024 |title=Sri Lanka experimenting with IUDs to tackle monkey menace |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lanka-experimenting-with-iuds-to-tackle-monkey-menace/article68492237.ece |access-date=August 7, 2024 |work=The Hindu}}] They were used by both [Sri Lanka Army](/source/Sri_Lanka_Army) and [Tamil Tigers](/source/LTTE) as target practice during the [Sri Lankan Civil War](/source/Sri_Lankan_civil_war).[{{cite web |last1=Srinivasan |first1=Meera |title=Conservationists in Sri Lanka slam proposal to export monkeys to China |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/conservationists-in-sri-lanka-slam-proposal-to-export-monkeys-to-china/article66756254.ece |website=www.thehindu.com |publisher=[The Hindu](/source/The_Hindu) |access-date=24 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419214326/https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/conservationists-in-sri-lanka-slam-proposal-to-export-monkeys-to-china/article66756254.ece |archive-date=April 19, 2023 |language=en-IN |date=19 April 2023 |url-status=live}}] In 2023, the government issued shotguns to farmers to stop the monkeys from raiding their crops and, when that failed to have an impact, began experimenting with implanting IUDs in females to stop them from reproducing.