Toque Macaque

Taxobox
name = Toque Macaque
status = EN
trend = down
status_system = iucn3.1

---

image_width = 200px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Primates
familia = Cercopithecidae
genus = "Macaca"
species = "M. sinica"
binomial = "Macaca sinica"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1771)
range_

range_map_caption=Range (in red)The Toque Macaque ("Macaca sinica") is a reddish-brown coloured Old World monkey endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is locally known as the 'Rilewa' (hence 'Rillow' in the Oxford English Dictionary). It is named for the Toque shaped whorl of hair on its head, rather like the bonnet of the related Bonnet Macaque.

It lives in troops, sometimes numbering up to 20, and has developed into three subspecies. It has a head and body length of convert|35|-|55|cm|in|abbr=on|lk=off, a tail length of convert|40|-|60|cm|in|abbr=on|lk=off and can weigh up to convert|8.4|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=off.

Troops of the Toque Macaque are a common sight in The Cultural Triangle, where many ancient temples are situated, hence earning them the nickname 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"

References

* Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1c v2.3)
*

External links

* ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Macaca_sinica/ images and movies of the toque macaque "(Macaca sinica)"]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/215.shtml BBC - Science & Nature - Animals - Toque macaque]
* [http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/Scientific_Staff/staff_scientists.cfm?id=43 Wolfgang Dittus - A Toque Macaque researcher]