Mammal · GBIF taxon 2436617
Lion-tailed Macaque
Macaca silenusAlso known as Wanderoo
Lion-tailed macaques spend nearly their entire lives high in the dense evergreen canopy of the Western Ghats, rarely descending to the forest floor. They communicate through distinct calls including a resonant territorial call by males, living in cohesive social troops led by dominant females. Unlike many opportunistic macaques, they rely heavily on pristine rainforest habitats where they feed on specialized native fruits and arboreal invertebrates.
ArborealRainforest
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Rainforest fruits
- Insects and grubs
- Tree frogs
Predators
- Leopard
- Dhole
- Indian Python
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, agricultural encroachment, deforestation, and road kill
HabitatsTropical evergreen rainforest canopy of the Western Ghats
Life span20 to 30 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCercopithecidae
- SpeciesMacaca silenus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of biting if threatened or cornered; keep a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a glossy black coat framed by a striking silver-white facial mane and a tufted tail.
- Support conservation
- Keep a generous distance, avoid direct eye contact, and never approach mothers with infants.
Responsible observation
- Scan upper canopy: Look high into evergreen tree crowns where troops travel and forage.
- Maintain quiet distance: Observe peacefully without sudden movements that disrupt troop behavior.
- Never offer food: Feeding wild macaques leads to human habituation and dangerous conflicts.
Canopy Neighbor 
Resource Competitor "An Indian Giant Squirrel eating fruit" by Hari K Patibanda is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Stefano Menchetti, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Stefano Menchetti · cc-by-sa
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