14-4-2017 GIBRALTAR - BARBARY MACAQUE (Macaca sylvanus)

The unique Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) are the only primates, occurring north of the Sahara in Africa. In addition, these animals are the only macaques, found outside of Asia. As highly adaptable creatures, they are capable of surviving in various environments and temperatures from fir and mixed oak forests to sheer cliffs. Moreover, the Barbary macaques are among the few monkeys, inhabiting cold and snowy regions. They are communal foragers, looking for food both terrestrially and in trees.

The Barbary macaque has a dark pink face with a pale buff to golden brown to grey pelage and a lighter underside. The color of mature adults changes with age. In adults and subadults, the fur on the back is variegated pale and dark which is due to banding on individual hairs. In spring to early summer, as the temperatures rise, the adult macaques molt their thick winter fur. The species shows sexual dimorphism with males larger than females. The boneless vestigial tail is greatly reduced compared with other macaque species and, if not absent, measures 4-22 mm (0.16-0.87 in).

The natural range of these primates covers the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco in North Africa. The Barbary monkeys have also been introduced from Morocco to Gibraltar, where these animals currently occur in a small population. They are most commonly found in high-altitude mountains, rocky cliffs, and gorges. The ideal habitat of this species is cedar forest, although the animals often inhabit mixed forests of cedar and holm-cork oak, pure oak forests, shrubby rock outcrops along coasts as well as grasslands, found at low elevations within their range.

Barbary macaques are generally active during the daytime hours, sleeping at night in single-sex clusters of 2-3 macaques. Most of their active time is spent traveling and looking for food. The Barbary macaques are highly social animals, gathering in groups of up to 59 individuals with an average of 24. These troops contain individuals of both sexes with equal proportions. Both males and females have their separate hierarchies. Females form strictly matrilineal hierarchies, where each individual is specifically ranked. Meanwhile, the social system of males is somewhat looser. In addition, males of this species are less aggressive than females. Mutual grooming is a common activity in these primates. It's an important part of their life, which helps remove parasites and reduce stress as well as enhances interpersonal relationships between members of a group. About half of all communication between conspecifics contains aggressive behavior. However, the Barbary macaques are more peaceful animals, than most primates.

Barbary macaques have a polygynandrous (promiscuous) mating system, where individuals of both sexes have numerous mates. They breed in November-December and produce offspring in April-June. A single infant is born after a gestation period of 158-170 days. The Barbary macaques are known to practice cooperative breeding, which means that all members of the troop take care of newborn babies. Weaning occurs at about 1 year old. The age of reproductive maturity is 4.5-7 years old in males and 2.5-4 years old in females, after which the latter continue living with their natal troop, whereas the former have to disperse.