Rhesus macaque

Rhesus macaque
Male, Gokarna Forest, Nepal
Female with infant in Galtaji, Jaipur
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Haplorhini
Infraorder:	Simiiformes
Family:	Cercopithecidae
Genus:	Macaca
Species:	M. mulatta
Binomial name
Macaca mulatta (Zimmermann, 1780)[2]
Rhesus macaque native range
Synonyms[3]
Species synonymy Simia fulvus (Kerr, 1792) Simia rhesus Audebert, 1798 Simia erythraea Shaw, 1800 Macaca nipalensis Hodgson, 1840 Macaca oinops Hodgson, 1840 Inuus sanctijohannis R. Swinhoe, 1866 Inuus sancti-johannis R. Swinhoe, 1866 Macacus lasiotus Gray, 1868 Macacus tcheliensis A. Milne-Edwards, 1872 Macacus vestitus A. Milne-Edwards, 1892 Macacus rhesus villosus True, 1894 Pithecus littoralis Elliot, 1909 Macaca siamica Kloss, 1917 Macaca mulatta mcmahoni Pocock, 1932

The rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), colloquially rhesus monkey, is a species of Old World monkey. There are between six and nine recognised subspecies that are split between two groups, the Chinese-derived and the Indian-derived. Generally brown or grey in colour, it is 47–53 cm (19–21 in) in length with a 20.7–22.9 cm (8.1–9.0 in) tail and weighs 5.3–7.7 kg (12–17 lb). It is native to South, Central, and Southeast Asia and has the widest geographic range of all non-human primates, occupying a great diversity of altitudes and a great variety of habitats, from grasslands to arid and forested areas, but also close to human settlements. Feral colonies are found in the United States, thought to be either released by humans or escapees after hurricanes destroyed zoo and wildlife park facilities.

The rhesus macaque is diurnal, arboreal, and terrestrial. It is mostly herbivorous, feeding mainly on fruit, but also eating seeds, roots, buds, bark, and cereals. It consumes around 99 different plant species. Rhesus macaques living in cities also eat human food and trash. They are gregarious, with troops comprising 20–200 individuals. The social groups are matrilineal, whereby a female's rank is determined by the rank of her mother. There has been extensive research into female philopatry, common in social animals, as females tend not to leave the social group.

The rhesus macaque communicates with a variety of facial expressions, vocalisations, body postures, and gestures. Facial expressions are used to appease or redirect aggression, assert dominance, and threaten other individuals. Vocalisations may be made to elicit grooming, while moving, or in threatening situations. Rhesus macaques spend most of their days feeding and resting; the remainder is occupied with traveling, grooming, and playing.

Due to rhesus macaque's relatively easy upkeep, wide availability, and closeness to humans anatomically and physiologically, it has been used extensively in medical and biological research. It has facilitated many scientific breakthroughs including vaccines for rabies, smallpox, polio and antiretroviral medication to treat HIV/AIDS. A rhesus macaque became the first primate astronaut in 1948 but died during the flight. It was followed on 14 June 1949 by Albert II, who became the first primate and first mammal in space.

The rhesus is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List. It tolerates a broad range of habitats.