Biological Characteristics of Crab-eating Monkeys on Angaur Island

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Crab-eating monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) inhabiting Angaur Island, in the Republic of Palau, Micronesia, are said to be descendents of animals brought to the island about 80 years ago (Poirier and Smith, 1974). Field sampling was performed in November and December 1986 for somatometry, clinical inspection of hematological and parasitological characteristics, and genetic assessment of the monkeys' origin, in order to define their biological characteristics.In total, samples from 70 individuals were obtained in the field. Physically the island monkeys were smaller than animals that originated in Indonesia. A color variant, with hairs lacking brown shading, was observed in three of the captured animals. Hematological examination revealed that the mean number of leukocytes (WBC) was high and the mean erythrocyte count (RBC) and hematocrit value (Ht) were low. The appearance of helminth was so rare that only Streptopharagus sp. was found. Six different alleles were detected at the transferrin locus. The mean heterozygosity of the population was estimated to be 10.2%, suggesting a relatively high degree of genetic variability.

Morphology and somatometric growth of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis fascicularis) in Singapore

“…Found on both sides of Wallace's Line, its range of endemism encompasses much of South‐east Asia, including most of Indonesia, the Philippine islands, Cambodia, Thailand, and the Nicobar Islands, as well as portions of Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. In addition to these areas of endemism, the long‐tailed macaque has been introduced to the islands of Mauritius, New Guinea, Ngeaur (Republic of Palau), and Kabaena where they appear to be thriving (Poirier & Smith, 1974; Sussman & Tattersall, 1986; Kawamoto et al ., 1988; Matsubayashi et al ., 1989; Wheatley et al ., 2002; Froehlich et al ., 2003).…”

Monkeys on the edge: ecology and management of long-tailed macaques and their interface with humans

“…Although the origin of the monkeys is unclear, the Germans may have brought over several monkeys that were eventually released into the wild. Genetic studies have indicated greater variability than is typical of island populations, such as Bali and Lombok (Matsubayashi et al ., 1989 ), indicating that the monkeys were probably brought from Asia mainland or the Greater Sunda Islands, such as Sumatra or Java, and that there were possibly several repeated introductions. The population has been reported to have fl uctuated between 800 and 400 individuals since its introduction, with population losses being the result of eradication efforts by the local communities (Farslow, 1987 ;Wheatley et al ., 1999Wheatley et al ., , 2002.…”