Status: The rhesus macaque is classified as Lower Risk – near threatened (LR/nt) on the IUCN Red List 2004 and is listed on Appendix II of CITES. DescriptionWith an expressive face and active lifestyle, the rhesus macaque is a charismatic species. Its coat is pale brown above and fades on the underside, but the naked face and rump are bright red in adults. It has large cheek pouches which it uses to store food when foraging. Audebert, who named the rhesus macaque, did so after the Greek King of Thrace, Rhesos, but emphasized that it had no special relevance. Since, the name rhesus has been extended to the hereditary blood antigen ‘Rh-factor' which was discovered on the red blood cells of rhesus macaques and was also found to be present in humans. Click for more information | click for more movies
© BBC Natural History Unit
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