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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
On top of Misen, Miyajima island's highest peak at 530m, familes of wild monkeys live not far from the shrines, making the place seem more mythical. Monkeys like this can be found in many mountain areas of Japan.
Japanese monkeys (Macaque Fuscata) are known as the primate species that live in the northern part of the world. They live in the forests, mainly broad-leaved forests in Honshu excluding Hokkaido and the Ryukyu Islands.
Mean weight of adult male is 12~15kg, and that of adult female is 8~13kg. Body length of adult male is 54~61cm, and that of adult female is 47~60cm. They have short tails, which is 8~12cm for males and 7~10cm for females. They have 20 milk teeth and 32 permanent teeth, which is the same as human. When they grow up to adult, their faces and bottoms become red color.
Their main food item is plants. They eat shoots, young leaves and weeps in spring. In fall, they eat fruits, and nuts and so on. Also they like insects too. Japanese monkeys in heavy snow area eat bamboo leaves, winters shoots or bark of trees and prevent from starving.
Several adult males compose their society; the number of adult females is nearly three times of adult males, and their children. Basically, females stay in her natal group, on the other hand, most of male leave their group before they become adults. Some of males become solitary male, but in someday, he will join the new group. They continue to move from group to group. So, the basic composition of group is adult females and their children, forming a matrilineal society.
Japanese monkeys are diurnal animal. At night, they sleep in trees, with the posture of holding each other or sitting alone. They never make nests to sleep, and sleeping sites change everyday. From dawn to dusk, the troop moves slowly and they search food, rest, or play. Mating season is from October to December. Their babies are born from April to June. Conception period is at average 173 days and bear only one baby, whose interval is usually a year. They live for 25-30 years. (information courtesy of Jigokudani Yaen-koen) |
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