In 1976 the taxonomical name was changed from Macaca speciosa to its present one. They are quadrapedial, meaning they usually move about using all four appendages rather than walking upright (bipedal). Their natural groups consist of 5 to 40 individuals. This species of macaque is diurnal (active in the daytime), arboreal (adapted for living in trees) and terrestrial (living on the land). A reference to the fact the Stump-tail macaques do NOT swim is found in the bibliography (Bertrand M. 1969. The Behavioral Repertoire of the Stumptailed Macaque: A Descriptive and Comparative Study, Karger, Basel, Switzerland)
The "Guide" goes on to state there have been many captive behavioral studies but few field studies done on these primates. Conflicts among individuals are followed by ritual reconciliation consisting of the subordinate monkey presenting its rump to the dominant one. The subordinate monkey may also offer it hand for the dominant one to mock bite it. Grooming is an essential part of these monkeys life. It has been observed, in captive studies, that a wounded individual will be groomed even more often.
In Assam (Northeast India) people have been attacked should they inadvertently disturb the troop. It is very common behavior for a subordinate monkey to attack an even lower ranking monkey, after being attacked by a higher-ranking monkey. (Editor's note: We call it an "anger management" control problem around here.) Stump-tailed Macaques are known to have 17 vocal calls. The "coo" being the most common one. This is used as a friendly communication and to initiate grooming.
In "Primates of the World" by Rod and Ken Preston-Mafham, they state there are "four well-founded species groups" of macaques, supported by "serological investigations." Macaques are found in Asia, from India eastward to Japan, the Philippines and Timor. One single species is found in North Africa. The Stump-tailed Macaque is considered the fourth group of macaques and is also called the "bear macaque" and noted as being "a rather ugly, dark brown creature with a bare face and forehead." (Editor's note: I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder?)
In "How Monkeys See the World" by Dorothy L. Cheney and Robert M. Seyfarth, it is noted in referring to social knowledge that this species of primate "rarely threaten individuals who form alliances against them, probably because the relative stability of dominance hierarchies prevents low-ranking animals from attacking previous opponents. It also mentions the fact that grooming plays an integral part of this species social life.
