Getting to Know the Japanese Macaque

Grade Levels

10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade

Course, Subject

Science and Technology and Engineering Education, Environment and Ecology (Agriculture), Science

Related Academic Standards

3.1.3.A1 3.1.3.A1

Describe characteristics of living things that help to identify and classify them.

3.1.4.A1 3.1.4.A1

Classify plants and animals according to the physical characteristics that they share.

3.1.7.A1 3.1.7.A1

Describe the similarities and differences of physical characteristics in diverse organisms.

3.1.8.A8 3.1.8.A8

CHANGE AND CONSTANCY

Explain mechanisms organisms use to adapt to their environment.

4.1.4.A 4.1.4.A

Explain how living things are dependent upon other living and nonliving things for survival.

Explain what happens to an organism when its food supply, access to water, shelter or space (niche / habitat) is changed.
Identify similarities and differences between living organisms, ranging from single-celled to multi-cellular organisms through the use of microscopes, video, and other media.

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Organism Name

Common Name: Japanese Macaque
Scientific Name: Macaca fuscata
Name Given to Offspring: Infant
Group Name: Troop

Did You Know?

Japanese macaques have cheek pouches for food storage and exhibit sexual dimorphism (males and females look different). Mature males are larger and have pronounced canine teeth. They also have brightly colored ischial callosities (buttocks pads). Ischial callosities are an adaptation for the long periods of time when monkeys sit in trees, so their legs don’t “go to sleep” with all of their body weight resting on their rears!

Geographic Range and Habitat

Geographic Range: Japan
Habitat: Forested mountain slopes

Classification Information

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Primata

Order: Anthropoidea

Family: Cercopithecidae

Physical Characteristics

Height: 21 inches, tail 4 inches

Weight: 20-30 pounds (male is larger than female)

Additional Information

They are both terrestrial and arboreal (inhabit trees) and are the largest of the macaques.

They live farther north than any other primates except humans.

Japanese macaques live in "troops," usually made up of 20 - 30 individuals. Troop size is dependent on food availability. Each troop is lead by a dominant male who receives his rank by strength. Females usually remain in the same troop for life. Rank for females is inherited, with daughters receiving the rank of their mothers!

Japanese macaques are rarely aggressive, and display social interactions such as grooming one another and sharing the jobs of bringing up the young.

Adapt to climatic changes (sunbathe, huddle, bathe in hot springs). They are good swimmers!

Important role in Japanese mythology and art. They are also famous for demonstrating that primates may have a culture. When one Japanese macaque discovered that the easier way to get rid of dirt on a sweet potato was to wash it, others soon picked up the trick and it was passed on to other troops as well! The macaques are believed to have developed the habit of soaking in thermal pools during the winter.

Author

The Buffalo Zoo

Description

The Japanese macaque, or snow monkey, is native to Japan and lives farther north than any other nonhuman primate. Their faces are hairless and turn bright red during adulthood. Unlike most monkeys that live in tropical areas, snow monkeys experience four distinct seasons each year. To stay warm in the harsh winter, snow monkeys huddle together and ‘relax’ in hot springs.

Getting to Know the Japanese Macaque