• Scientific Name: Macaca silenus
  • It has black hair
  • It is easily recognised by its silver-white mane that surrounds the head from the cheeks down to its chin
  • It is diurnal in nature, as in being active solely during day light hours.
  • It is a good climber, spending most of its time in the upper reaches of a tropical rainforest.
  • Its habitat consist of rainforest regions of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
  • Unlike other macaques, lion-tails avoid humans as much as possible.
  • They form hierarchical groups of about 20 numbers.  These groups fiercely defend their territories with loud cries and if necessary, brawling aggressively.
  • The diet of the  lion tailed macaque consist of fruits, leaves, buds and insects.
  • IUCN
    Only the males have canines, though mostly just to show them off to rival males. These large canines come in use when the macaques feast on fruits like jackfruits and Cullenia.

    reported that 3000-5000 of the lion tailed macaque population was dispersed in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

  • The Silent valley National Park in Kerala has the largest population of lion tailed macaques in south India.  It was part of the save silent valley project launched in 1973, which sought to protect the region from development projects and in turn the remaining population of Lion tailed macaque.
  • IUCN Status : Endangered