Barbary Macaque[1]
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Family:	Cercopithecidae
Genus:	Macaca
Species:	M. sylvanus
Binomial name
Macaca sylvanus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Geographic range; currently the Tunisian population shown on the map is extinct.

The Barbary Macaque ( /məˈkɑːk/; Macaca sylvanus), or Common macaque, is a macaque with no tail. Found in the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco with a small population, of unknown origin, in Gibraltar, the Barbary Macaque is one of the best-known Old World monkey species. Besides humans, they are the only primates that live freely in Europe. Although the species is commonly referred to as the "Barbary Ape", the Barbary Macaque is a true monkey, not an ape.

Appearance[link]

Skull and brain, as illustrated in Gervais' Histoire naturelle des mammifères

The monkey is yellowish-brown to grey with lighter undersides, growing to a maximum size of 75 cm (30 in) and 16 kg (29 lb). Its face is a dark pink and its tail is vestigial. The front limbs of this monkey are longer than its hind limbs. Females are somewhat smaller than males.

Ecology[link]

Dwelling in forests of cedar, pine and oak, the Barbary Macaque may frequent elevations of 2,100 m (6,900 ft) or more. It is a diurnal animal, dividing its time more or less equally between arboreal and terrestrial territory. Mostly herbivorous, this monkey feeds on leaves, roots, and fruit, but will also eat insects. By day, the Barbary Macaque patrols a territory which may span several square kilometres; it peacefully co-exists with other primate species, sharing watering holes without incident. The Barbary Macaque moves about energetically on all fours, occasionally rising erect on its hind limbs to survey for threats.

Female Barbary macacque with young suckling at Mediterranean Steps, Gibraltar.

illustration from the XIX^th century

Distribución de M. sylvanus

The Barbary Macaque is a gregarious monkey, forming mixed groups of several females and males; the troop of 10 to 100 individuals is matriarchal, with its hierarchy determined by lineage to the lead female. Unlike other macaques, the males participate in rearing the young; much time is spent playing and grooming with them. In this way, a strong social bond is formed between a male and his offspring, both the male's own and those of others in the troop. This may be a result of selectiveness on the part of the females, who seem to prefer highly parental males.

The mating season runs from November through March. After a gestation period of 147 to 192 days, typically one baby per female is born; twins are a rarity. The monkeys reach maturity at 3 to 4 years of age, and may live for 20 years or more.

Status[link]

Wild populations of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) have suffered a major decline in recent years to the point of being declared in 2009 as an "endangered species" by the IUCN. In the Middle Atlas mountains are located three quarters of the world population. Its habitat is restricted to rocky areas with sparse vegetation which are unsuitable for agriculture. The populations are isolated and increasingly inbreeding, with the risks that this situation creates. The species is listed globally as Vulnerable, and is declining.

The species is besides poached for live specimens as pets in illegal pet trade, and clandestine collectors. Spain is the main entry point in Europe. Today, there are no accurate data on the location and number of individuals that are out of their habitat. An unknown number of individuals are included in zoological collections, at other institutions, or in private hands, in storage or waiting to be relocated to appropriate destinations.

The habitat of the Barbary Macaque is under threat from increased logging activity; they are listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List. Local farmers view the monkeys as pests, and engage in extermination of the species. Once common throughout northern Africa and southern Europe, there are estimated to be just 12,000 to 21,000 Barbary Macaques left in Morocco and Algeria.^[3] Once their distribution was much more extensive, reaching Tunisia and Libya. There is not now a continuous range, but rather isolated areas. During the Pleistocene this species inhabited the Mediterranean coasts and Europe, reaching Italy, Hungary, Spain and France, as far north as Germany and the British Isles. The species decreased with the arrival of the Ice Age, becoming extinct in the Iberian peninsula 30,000 years ago.

The skull of a Barbary Macaque was discovered during excavation in the 1970s at the pre-Christian Navan Fort in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Carbon dating tests suggest it died there in the 3rd century BC.

Human use[link]

Many of the mistaken ideas about human anatomy contained in the writings of Galen are apparently due to his use of these animals, the only anthropoid available to him, in dissections. Strong cultural taboos of his time prevented his performing any actual dissections of human cadavers, even in his role as physician and teacher of physicians.

Gibraltar population[link]

A macaque in Gibraltar.

Gibraltar Barbary Macaque feet and hands

The last wild population in Europe is that of Gibraltar, which unlike that of North Africa is thriving. At present, according to the census carried out by Andrew Stimpson, there are some 300 animals in five troops occupying the area of the Upper Rock, though occasional forays into the town may result in damages to personal property.

See also[link]

• Djebel Babor Nature Reserve

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Macaca sylvanus

Wikispecies has information related to: Barbary Macaque

• ARKive - images and movies of the Barbary Macaque (Macaca sylvanus)
•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Barbary Ape". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.