Head to head
Bonnet Macaque vs Barbary Macaque
The bonnet macaque and Barbary macaque are both adaptable members of the macaque genus, but they occupy strikingly different parts of the world and carry very different distinguishing features.
| Bonnet Macaque | Barbary Macaque | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Macaca radiata | Macaca sylvanus |
| Native range | Southern India | Atlas Mountains, Morocco and Algeria |
| Distinctive feature | Whorl of hair on the crown | Essentially no visible tail |
| Unique distribution fact | Endemic to southern India | Only wild primate in Europe (Gibraltar) |
| Human proximity | Common around temples and towns | Tourist-habituated on Gibraltar |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Forest, grassland | Mountains, forest |
Bonnet Macaque vs Barbary Macaque: common questions
Why is the Barbary macaque called the only wild primate in Europe?
This species maintains a small wild population on the Rock of Gibraltar, making it the only non-human primate living wild anywhere in Europe, even though its true native range lies in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria, quite unlike the bonnet macaque, which is found only in southern India.
Why is the bonnet macaque named that?
This species has a distinctive whorl of hair on the top of its head that radiates outward from a central point, resembling a woven cap, a feature that gives the species its common name and sets it apart from the tailless Barbary macaque, which has no equivalent crown marking.
Which of these two macaques has no tail?
The Barbary macaque is the only macaque species with essentially no visible tail, a distinctive feature it does not share with the bonnet macaque, which retains a clearly visible tail typical of most other macaque species.