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Status and Distribution of Macaca fascicularis umbrosa in the Nicobar Islands, India

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Abstract

We surveyed the distribution and status of the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis umbrosa) in the Nicobar Islands of India. Long-tailed macaques live on 3 islands: Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar and Katchal. There are a total 788 groups. Group size ranged from 25 to 56 individuals with a mean size of 36. Long-tailed macaques are a multimale-multifemale society. Adult males, adult females and immatures constituted 9.7 per cent, 43.2 per cent and 47.1 per cent of the population, respectively. A fairly high ratio of immatures to adult females indicates a healthy population turnover. Vegetation parameters including tree density, canopy cover, canopy height and basal area indicated a still healthful habitats on all the 3 islands. We observed a few threats to the macaques. Measures should be undertaken to ensure survival of the Nicobar subspecies.

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Umapathy, G., Singh, M. & Mohnot, S.M. Status and Distribution of Macaca fascicularis umbrosa in the Nicobar Islands, India. International Journal of Primatology 24, 281–293 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023045132009

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023045132009

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