Snow monkeys, also known as Japanese macaques, are type of monkeys which inhabit three out of four main islands of Japan. They are adapted equally well to the warm subtropical lowlands and to the cold subalpine regions. Snow monkeys are not listed as endangered species although they are not as numerous as they were in the past. Main threats for their survival are habitat loss, deforestation and killing (farmers consider them as pests, because snow monkeys often eat and destroy crops).
Interesting Snow monkey Facts:
- Snow monkeys vary in size depending on the region they inhabit: animals in the southern parts are smaller compared to the animals living in the colder, northern regions of Japan. On average, snow monkeys weigh between 25 and 40 pounds and reach 20 to 23 inches in length.
- Body of the snow monkey is covered with fur, whose color varies from brown to white.
- Fur covers all parts of their body except faces and rear areas. Red color of the face is a positive sign that animal has reached adulthood.
- Snow monkeys are omnivores (eat both meat and vegetation). Their diet consists of barks, twigs, fruit, insects, eggs and small mammals.
- Snow monkeys live in large groups called troops. Troops can be huge, composed of several hundreds of animals.
- Each troop has a male and female leader. Males establish their dominancy by proving their physical strength and ability to find food for all members of the group. Leader can hold his position for couple of decades. Females establish dominancy by inheriting the ruling position from their mothers or other relatives. This system is called matrilineality.
- Snow monkeys are known as the one of the cleverest species of monkeys. They learn easily and share new skills and hunting (or eating) techniques with other members of the troop and with their offspring.
- It has been known that snow monkeys wash sweet potato in the water. Some troops use salty water for this purpose because they prefer salty taste of the food.
- When snow monkey collect grains, they need to separate them from the dirt and sand. For this purpose, monkeys put the mixture of grains and dirt in the water and wait for sand and dirt to sink down, and the grains to appear on the surface of the water. As soon as grains appear, they can easily collect them and eat.
- Snow monkeys are playful creatures. They often made snowballs and roll them on the ground during the winter. Adult animals also participate in this type of game.
- Bonds between members are very tight. During the leisure time, snow monkeys groom each other to remove fleas and insects from the fur. Grooming nourishes the social bonds between animals.
- During the winter time, snow monkeys gather and hold each other tightly to prevent heat loss.
- Snow monkeys produce different types of sounds used for communication. Scientists noticed that type of sound depends on the location that monkeys inhabit, such as different dialects in human language.
- Snow monkeys reach sexual maturity at the age of four years. Female’s rear end turns red as a sign that she is ready for mating. She gives birth to a single baby after 170 to 180 days of pregnancy.
- Snow monkeys can live up to 30 years in captivity.
