Meet the Crab-Eating Macaque, an Ocean-Swimming Monkey

If you go swimming in clear, tropical waters with white sandy beaches, you would probably expect to see some marine life like colorful fish and graceful rays. But what if, instead, a furry monkey swam right up to you, completely submerged? That’s definitely not something you see every day! But in this YouTube video, a bold adventurer not only encountered a crab-eating macaque in the ocean, but he also befriended it!

The Macaques That Love Crabs

The crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis), also known as the long-tailed macaque, is a unique primate found throughout South Asia. There are at least 10 subspecies living in their native habitats, but their populations are declining due to poaching, hunting, trapping, and conflicts with people. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists them as an endangered species.

Crab-eating macaques are adaptable animals that thrive in a variety of environments, including bamboo, evergreen, coastal, and deciduous forests, as well as mangrove and freshwater swamps, scrublands, and even human settlements. They are primarily arboreal, meaning that they spend most of their time in trees. Their most striking feature is their exceptionally long tail, which can be even longer than their body. While their bodies measure between 15 to 18.5 inches, their tails can reach lengths of 19 to 23.5 inches. Crab-eating macaques are also social animals, living in groups called “troops” that can range from 10 to 100 individuals.

Maritime Macaques

Despite their name, most crab-eating macaques don’t eat a lot of crabs. Their diet mainly includes plants and fruits. They also supplement their meals with invertebrates, lizards, fish, frogs, and birds. Macaques living along coastlines often eat clams and oysters, using stones as tools to open them. However, this behavior is common in coastal and mangrove areas but not among inland populations.

The Evolutionary Edge of Aquatic Macaques

Unlike many other primates, crab-eating macaques are exceptional swimmers and divers. Although only those living along the coast or in mangroves regularly eat crabs and other sea life, all crab-eating macaques possess remarkable aquatic abilities. Some macaques wade in shallow waters, feeling for food with their hands, while others dive completely underwater, as shown in this YouTube video. They forage along the ocean floor, holding their breath for up to 30 seconds. This unique adaptation gives these macaques a major advantage over other primates, as they are not limited to food found only on land. Crab-eating macaques also have excellent hand dexterity and a strong grip, which are key to their success in aquatic environments. They use their hands to search for prey hidden underwater and employ rocks and sticks as tools to open shellfish.

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