SPECIES OF MONKEY
There are numerous monkeys in the world. The diet varies on where the monkey lives and what type of species the monkey is. With over two hundred monkey species, this page wont be able to hit all monkey types, but will focus on Japanese Macaque. The Japanese Macaque is a specific type of monkey found in numerous islands of Japan. (1)
There are numerous monkeys in the world. The diet varies on where the monkey lives and what type of species the monkey is. With over two hundred monkey species, this page wont be able to hit all monkey types, but will focus on Japanese Macaque. The Japanese Macaque is a specific type of monkey found in numerous islands of Japan. (1)
MACAQUE DIET
The macaque monkey usually is considered an omnivore for their eating habits. Although the diet of the monkey changes depending on the season and time of the year. In the summer months the diet is based mostly on fruit. The winter the diet consists of leaves, wood/bark, seeds, grains, nuts, and fungi. (2) During the winter months food can be harder for the monkeys to find so they eat what they can with what is available. They may be forced to dig into the dirt to find roots or dig in a river to find raw fish.(1)Due to the lack of food supply for the Japanese monkey there has been an increase in mortality among the monkey species. The monkeys are often killed off after raiding local farms when they are caught eating the crops. (4) This monkey has numerous predators such as eagles, feral and raccoon dogs, wolves, and humans.(
The macaque monkey usually is considered an omnivore for their eating habits. Although the diet of the monkey changes depending on the season and time of the year. In the summer months the diet is based mostly on fruit. The winter the diet consists of leaves, wood/bark, seeds, grains, nuts, and fungi. (2) During the winter months food can be harder for the monkeys to find so they eat what they can with what is available. They may be forced to dig into the dirt to find roots or dig in a river to find raw fish.(1)Due to the lack of food supply for the Japanese monkey there has been an increase in mortality among the monkey species. The monkeys are often killed off after raiding local farms when they are caught eating the crops. (4) This monkey has numerous predators such as eagles, feral and raccoon dogs, wolves, and humans.(
PHYSIOLOGY OF FEEDING
When it comes to monkeys it is interesting to understand the physiology behind feeding. The monkeys use there hands to help them climb up trees, go in water, and dig to find food. When they are getting ready to eat they will smoosh the food with their hands(5). The physiology varies between males and females. This is because the females activation of estrogen s cause decrease in eating. This means that when monkeys go through the ovarian track they are less likely to eat as much at certain times of the cycle because of their hormones. The control of eating is determined by the neurochemicals in the brain such as serotonin, MSH, neuropeptide Y, Agouti-related peptide (AgRP), melanin-concentrating hormone, and dopamine.(3)
FUN FACTS
The Japanese Macaque monkeys are known as potato washing animals. When monkeys were given potatoes in the sand it was observed that the monkeys would take the potatoes to the ocean water to wash the sand off. The monkeys didn't like the taste of the potato in fresh water as much as in the salt water. When given potatoes the monkeys kept placing the potato back in the salt water for added flavor. Below is a video that shows the representation of this study. (4)
When it comes to monkeys it is interesting to understand the physiology behind feeding. The monkeys use there hands to help them climb up trees, go in water, and dig to find food. When they are getting ready to eat they will smoosh the food with their hands(5). The physiology varies between males and females. This is because the females activation of estrogen s cause decrease in eating. This means that when monkeys go through the ovarian track they are less likely to eat as much at certain times of the cycle because of their hormones. The control of eating is determined by the neurochemicals in the brain such as serotonin, MSH, neuropeptide Y, Agouti-related peptide (AgRP), melanin-concentrating hormone, and dopamine.(3)
FUN FACTS
The Japanese Macaque monkeys are known as potato washing animals. When monkeys were given potatoes in the sand it was observed that the monkeys would take the potatoes to the ocean water to wash the sand off. The monkeys didn't like the taste of the potato in fresh water as much as in the salt water. When given potatoes the monkeys kept placing the potato back in the salt water for added flavor. Below is a video that shows the representation of this study. (4)
The Japanese Macaque monkeys are known as potato washing animals. When monkeys were given potatoes in the sand it was observed that the monkeys would take the potatoes to the ocean water to wash the sand off. The monkeys didn't like the taste of the potato in fresh water as much as in the salt water. When given potatoes the monkeys kept placing the potato back in the salt water for added flavor. Below is a video that shows the representation of this study. (4)
References:
(1) "Japanese Macaque." Primate Info Net. National Primate Reasearch Center, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. <http%3A
%2F%2Fpin.primate.wisc.edu%2Ffactsheets%2Fentry%2Fjapanese_macaque>.
(2)"Macaca Fuscata." Animal Diversity Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Macaca_fuscata/>.
(3)"Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23904103>.
(4) "Japanese Macaque - Macaca Fuscata." Japanese Macaque - Macaca Fuscata. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/japanese_macaque.htm>.
(1) "Japanese Macaque." Primate Info Net. National Primate Reasearch Center, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. <http%3A
%2F%2Fpin.primate.wisc.edu%2Ffactsheets%2Fentry%2Fjapanese_macaque>.
(2)"Macaca Fuscata." Animal Diversity Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Macaca_fuscata/>.
(3)"Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23904103>.
(4) "Japanese Macaque - Macaca Fuscata." Japanese Macaque - Macaca Fuscata. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/japanese_macaque.htm>.