What Kind of Animal Is the Rhesus Macaque? An Introduction to Its Appearance, Habits and Practical Value

The rhesus macaque is a species of macaque, also commonly known as the common macaque, named because the early type specimen was collected from the Ganges River basin. It is mainly distributed across South Asia and Southeast Asia, and wild populations also live in the mountain forests of southwestern and southern China.

The rhesus macaque is medium in size, with bare facial skin that is mostly flesh-pink, fur mainly brownish-gray and yellowish-brown, and a relatively short tail. They are social animals that prefer to live in groups and are mostly active during the day; they can climb trees as well as frequently come down to the ground to forage. They are omnivorous, with fruit, tender leaves, seeds and insects all forming part of their diet.

The rhesus macaque is fairly closely related to humans, sharing many similarities in physiological structure and anatomical features, which makes it a commonly used laboratory animal in medical and biological research, playing an important role in vaccine development, drug evaluation, neuroscience and other fields.

In China, the rhesus macaque is a Class II nationally key protected wild animal; catching, buying, selling or harming wild individuals without authorization is illegal, and captive breeding requires the relevant procedures to be handled in accordance with the law. When encountering a rhesus macaque in the wild, keep your distance and do not feed or tease it at will, to avoid causing danger.