Mammals · Primates · Cercopithecidae

Rhesus Monkey

Macaca mulatta

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It gives its name to the Rh blood group system (the Rhesus factor), discovered in 1940 through experiments on this species.

Weight

5.3 kg – 7.7 kg

Size

47 cm – 53 cm

Lifespan

15 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Family group

Lives in small family groups with close bonds.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestTemperate forestOmnivore Diurnal Family group Rainforest Temperate forest Mammal

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Fun facts

It is one of the non-human primates most used in biomedical research worldwide.
It eats roots, grasses, fruit, insects, crops and small animals.
It occupies a wide range of habitats across Central, South and East Asia, including towns and temples.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: A wide range of habitats across Central, South and East Asia: forest, towns and temples
Birth weight: 400 - 500 grams
Size at birth: Wholly dependent at birth
Sexual maturity: Female: 3 years | Male: 4 years
Gestation / incubation: 135-194 days (usual reference ~165 days)
Litter / clutch size: 1 young (twins rare)
Lifespan in captivity: 15-25 years in captivity (documented record of up to 40 years)

Sources consulted: Wikidoc; ScienceDirect (Basic Physiology); A-Z Animals; Animalia.bio; Animal Diversity Web; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); PMC (behavioral organization study)