Cyberchimps Project

Rhesus Macaque

Native to Southeast Asiahe (Macaca mulatta), often called the Rhesus Monkey, is one of the best known species of Old World monkeys.

Adult males measure approximately 53 centimeters on average and weigh an average of 7.7 kilograms. Females are smaller, averaging 47 centimeters in length and 5.3 kilograms in weight. This macaque is brown or grey in color and have pink faces which are typically bereft of fur. Its tail is of medium length and averages between 20.7 and 22.9 centimeters. It typically has a lifespan of about 25 years.

The species is common throughout Afghanistan, northern India, and southern China. There is also a colony that is well established and thriving in Florida, USA. This population gained a foothold niche in the Silver River State Park as a result of being released by a tour boat operator known locally as "Colonel Tooey" to enhance his "Jungle Cruise" ride some time around the Spring of 1938. A traditional story that the monkeys were released for scenery enhancement in the Tarzan movies that were filmed at that location is false, as the only Tarzan movie filmed in the area, 1939's Tarzan Finds a Son! contains no Rhesus Macaques.

The rhesus macaque is Yorke´s most common nonhuman primate and the most common monkey used in biomedical research due to its ability to adapt to almost any environment. This serves research programs well because such adaptable animals provide the most reliable research results.

Pigtail Macaque

Native to Southeast Asia

The pig-tailed macaques (pigtail macaques, etc) are macaque sister species. They look almost identical and are best distinguished by their parapatric ranges:

• Northern Pig-tailed Macaque, Macaca leonina (Bangladesh to Vietnam, south to northern Malaysia)
• Southern Pig-tailed Macaque or Beruk, Macaca nemestrina (Northern Malaysia and southern Thailand to Borneo and western Indonesia)

The pigtail macaque belongs to the same genus as the rhesus macaque, although pigtail macaques tend to be larger. These animals make valuable contributions to research involving AIDS, aging and behavioral effects of hormone replacement therapy.

Cynomolgus Monkey

Native to Southeast Asia

Macaca fascicularis is a primarily arboreal macaque native to Southeast Asia. It is also called the Cynomolgus Monkey and the Long-tailed Macaque.

Macaca fascicularis has been used extensively in medical experiments, in particular those connected with neuroscience. It has also been identified as a possible vector for Ebola virus, monkeypox and is a known carrier of B-virus (Herpesvirus simiae).

Being "ecologically diverse", the Crab-eating Macaque is found in a wide variety of habitats, including primary lowland rainforests, disturbed and secondary rainforests, and riverine and coastal forests of nipa palm and mangrove. They also easily adjust to human settlements and are considered sacred at some Hindu temples and on some small islands, while a pest when around farms and villages. Typically it prefers disturbed habitats and forest periphery. The native range of this species includes most of mainland Southeast Asia, including the Malay Archipelago islands of Sumatra, Java, and Borneo, the islands of the Philippines, and the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

Used in memory and neuroscience research at the Yorke´s Research Center, the cynomolgus monkey sometimes is called a crab-eating macaque and has been used extensively in biomedical research. This monkey also is a known vector of smallpox and shows promise as an animal model for smallpox research.

Chimpanzee

Chimpanzee, often shortened to chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of apes in the genus Pan. The better known chimpanzee is Pan troglodytes, the Common Chimpanzee, living primarily in West, and Central Africa. Its cousin, the Bonobo or "Pygmy Chimpanzee" as it is known archaically, Pan paniscus, is found in the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Congo River forms the boundary between the two species.[2] Chimpanzees are members of the Hominidae family, along with gorillas, humans, and orangutans, and the two chimpanzee species are the closest living relatives to humans. Native to Africa

Social dominance hierarchies are a predominant feature of chimpanzees, and most other nonhuman primates, with males and females having different but equally important roles.

Chimpanzees make valuable contributions to research involving aging, brain imaging, genetic and cognitive studies, social intelligence and evolution.

Sooty Mangabey

Native to West Africa

The sooty mangabey is believed to be, in nature, the source of HIV-2, a less-virulent strain of HIV. Yerkes researchers are studying these animals in efforts to refine and develop new treatments for AIDS and HIV infection.

In addition, sooty mangabeys contribute to research involving reproductive biology and behavior, social system dynamics, immune function and evolution of growth.

Capuchin Monkeys

Native to Central and South America

The capuchins are the group of New World monkeys classified as genus Cebus. Their name comes from their coloration, which resembles the cowls worn by the Franciscan Capuchin order of Catholic friars. Cebus is the only genus in subfamily Cebinae.

The range of the capuchin monkeys includes Central America (Honduras) and middle South America (middle Brazil, eastern Peru, Paraguay).

Capuchins generally resemble the friars of their namesake. Their body, arms, legs and tail are all darkly (black or brown) colored, while the face, throat and chest are white colored, and their head has a black cap. They reach a length of 30 to 56 cm (12 - 22 inches), with tails that are just as long as the body. They weigh up to 1.3 kg (2 lb, 13 oz), with brains of mass 35-40g. They are considered the most intelligent New World monkeys.[citation needed]

Like most New World monkeys, capuchins are diurnal and arboreal. With the exception of a midday nap, they spend their entire day searching for food. At night they sleep in the trees, wedged between branches. They are undemanding regarding their habitat and can thus be found in many differing areas. Among the natural enemies of the capuchins are large falcons, cats and snakes.

The diet of the capuchins is more varied than other monkeys in the family Cebidae. They are omnivores, eating not only fruits, nuts, seeds and buds, but also insects, spiders, bird eggs and small vertebrates. Capuchins living near water will also eat crabs and shellfish by cracking their shells with stones.

Easily recognized as the "organ grinder" or "greyhound jockey" monkeys, capuchins are sometimes kept as exotic pets. They are also sometimes used as service animals. Sometimes they plunder fields and crops and are seen as troublesome by nearby human populations.[2] In some regions they have become rare due to the destruction of their habitat.

Capuchin monkeys are known for their high level of intelligence and curiousity, most likely due to having the largest brain-to-body size ratio of any primate other than humans.

Capuchins provide valuable insight into foodsharing, primate economics, communication, cooperation, social affiliation and self-awareness.

Squirrel Monkey

Native to South America

The squirrel monkeys are the New World monkeys of the genus Saimiri. They are the only genus in the subfamily Saimirinae.

Squirrel monkeys live in the tropical forests of Central and South America. Their range extends from Costa Rica through central Brazil and Bolivia.

Squirrel monkey fur is short and close, colored olive at the shoulders and yellowish orange on its back and extremities. Their throat and the ears are white and their mouths are black. The upper part of their head is hairy. This black and white face gives them their German name, "skull monkeys".

Squirrel monkeys grow to 25 to 35 cm, plus a 35 to 42 cm tail. They weigh 750 to 1100g. Remarkably, the brain mass to body mass ratio for squirrel monkeys is 1:17, which gives them the largest brain, proportionately, of all the primates. Humans have a 1:35 ratio.

Female squirrel monkeys have a pseudo-penis that they use to display dominance over smaller monkeys, much like the way the male squirrel monkeys display their dominance.

Like most of their New World monkey relatives, squirrel monkeys are diurnal and arboreal. Unlike the other New World monkeys, their tail is not used for climbing, but as a kind of "balancing pole" and also as a tool. Their movements in the branches are extremely speedy.

They live together in multi-male/multi-female groups with up to 500 members. These large groups can, however, occasionally break into smaller troops. They have a number of vocal calls, including warning sounds to protect themselves from large falcons, which are a natural threat to them. Their small body size also makes them susceptible to predators such as snakes and felids. For marking territory, squirrel monkeys rub their tail and their skin with their own urine.

Squirrel monkeys are omnivores, eating primarily fruits and insects. Occasionally they also eat nuts, buds, eggs and small vertebrates.

The mating of the squirrel monkeys is subject to seasonal influences. Females give birth to young during the rainy season, after a 150- to 170-day gestation. The mothers exclusively care for the young. Saimiri oerstedti are weaned by 4 months of age, while S. boliviensis are not fully weaned until 18 months old. Female squirrel monkeys reach sexual maturity at age 3 years, while males take until age 5. They live to about 15 years old in the wild, about 20 years in captivity.

The Common Squirrel Monkey S. sciureus is captured for the pet trade and for medical research[2] but it is not endangered. Three squirrel monkey species are in danger of extinction. S. o. oerstedti is listed as "endangered," S. o. citrinellus is listed as "critically endangered" and S. vanzolinii is listed as "Vulnerable."

Squirrel monkeys, often seen traveling close behind a social group of capuchins, are found in South America and travel and forage almost exclusively on tree branches. Squirrel monkeys are used at the Yorke´s Research Center in vaccine and behavioral neuroscience studies, specifically research on cocaine addiction and malaria.