Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area Headquarters

• Photographer: Cob

Macaca cyclopis is our national treasure. Do you know where you have the best chance to meet it? The answer is that macaca cyclopis is often seen in Baguashan Ershui Macaque Protection Zone as well Ershui Dengmiao Trail; in addition, macaca cyclopis is widely distributed in various mountainous areas, from level ground to more than three thousand meters above sea level. Its habitat environment is mainly dense natural forests, and it prefers to appear on exposed rock or near the source of water. Macaca cyclopis can be seen in the Central Mountains and the Eastern Coastal Mountains of Taiwan, especially in national parks, where the natural environment is less vulnerable to human destruction, so it is very suitable for the habitat of macaca cyclopis. Macaca cyclopis is also known as the black-limb monkey; its scientific name is macaca cyclopis (cyclopis is round; its scientific name means “round-headed macaque”). Its English name is Formosan macaque or Formosan rock-monkey, which is an endemic species of Taiwan, and is a rare and precious wild animal. Its characteristics are forelimbs shorter than hindlimbs and each limb has five toes. Macaca cyclopis, with round head, flat face, bare forehead, light or deep purple face, varies from individual to individual, so Taiwanese aborigines divide it into white face and red face. Macaca cyclopis grows long, coarse cheek beards, and its tail is thick and hairy; its whole body is covered with thick, soft hair. It is brownish grey in winter and brownish green in summer. It has four dark limbs, so it is also called the black limb ape. Its interfemoral region has visible reddish-brown spots. In general, female macaques are smaller in size and lighter in color than male macaques. They mainly consume fruits, and their favorite fruits are banana, mango, lychee, orange, and so on.