Physical description
Its body is covered with thick and silky black fur, while its long white or gray mane surrounds its head, accentuating its piercing gaze. Its tail, shorter than that of other macaques, ends with a tuft of hair in the shape of a brush.
Size and weight
The Lion-tailed Macaque measures on average 45 to 60 cm, with a tail of approximately 25 cm. Its weight varies between 2 and 10 kg, with males generally being more imposing than females.
Habitat and distribution
Endemic to the humid tropical forests of the Western Ghats, in South India, this macaque is mainly arboreal, moving with agility in the canopy, although it sometimes descends to the ground to search for food. It lives in social groups of 10 to 20 individuals, led by a well-established hierarchy.
Diet
Its diet is omnivorous, composed mainly of fruits, seeds, leaves, flowers, as well as insects and small vertebrates. It plays an important ecological role in dispersing seeds, thus contributing to the regeneration of its forest habitat.
Conservation and threats
The Lion-tailed Macaque is in danger of extinction due to deforestation, fragmentation of its habitat and poaching.
