Common Names
Sulawesi crested black macaque, black ape, Celebes ape,
Celebes black ape, black Celebes macaque, and crested
Celebes macaque. (The Celebes island has been renamed
Sulawesi.) Though the common names of the Sulawesi macaque
sometimes refer to it as an ape, it is actually a monkey.
Distribution and Habitat
Found in Indonesia, on the extreme northeastern tip
of the island of Sulawesi (formerly Celebes) and on
several adjacent islands. They are also found on the
island of Bacan (or Batjan), where it is believed they
were introduced by people.
The island is mountainous and covered with tropical rainforest. The climate is hot, but tempered by sea winds.
Physical Characteristics
Sulawesi macaques have black skin, black hair, compact
bodies, very small or almost no external tails, and
limbs of equal length. There is a crest of long hairs
on the top of their head. Both sexes have ischial callosities
(large, bare pads at the base of their tails). Females
show a large, pink swelling of these pads around the
time of ovulation.
Diet
In the wild, macaques are omnivorous (eating both animals
and plants), but are mostly vegetarian. They eat fruit,
berries, grains, leaves, insects, and occasionally small
vertebrates. At the Zoo, they eat monkey chow, kale,
apples, oranges, peanuts, mealworms, crickets, and a
variety of other fruits and vegetables.
Life Span
Males reach physical maturity between six and ten years
of age, and females around six years. Some macaques
have lived more than 40 years in zoos.
Reproduction
Gestation is about six months and one young is produced
at a time. The intervals between births range from one
to two years.
Social Structure and Activity
Sulawesi macaque groups range from five to 50 individuals
or larger. There is little evidence of territoriality,
but they may defend the area they occupy at any given
time. Groups that have been studied spend more than
half their day moving and feeding. Adult males moved
and rested more than adult females, but fed, foraged,
and socialized less.
There is a range of macaque social behaviors that is easily observed. Behaviors include: lip smacking (a greeting), grimacing, grooming, and mutual embraces.
Conservation
Macaca nigra is an endangered species.
These macaques are losing their habitat as rainforests
are destroyed on Sulawesi. They are also hunted, both
as a source of food and because they sometimes raid
crops.
