crab-eating macaque

The Crab‑eating Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), also known as the Long‑tailed Macaque, is a medium‑sized Old World monkey native to a wide swath of Southeast Asia. It displays a long tail (often longer than body length) and is highly adaptable, thriving in forested habitats, mangrove swamps, riverine zones, and importantly in human‑modified landscapes (agricultural, urban fringe, temple grounds). Socially, troops are matrilineal, with females staying in their natal groups and males dispersing at puberty. They are omnivorous and opportunistic, feeding on fruits, leaves, invertebrates, small animals, and in some habitats even crabs or coastal resources. Their adaptability has allowed them to exploit proximity to humans; however this also exposes them to many threats: deep habitat loss, intensive trade for research, human–wildlife conflict, and ecological challenges. Although once extremely abundant, their numbers are now in decline and conservation attention is increasing.