Head to head
Crab-eating Macaque vs Japanese Macaque
Crab-eating Macaque
VS Japanese Macaque
The crab-eating macaque and Japanese macaque are two well-known macaques at opposite ends of Asia's climate range, one a tropical shoreline forager and the other the northernmost primate apart from humans.
| Crab-eating Macaque | Japanese Macaque | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Macaca fascicularis | Macaca fuscata |
| Range | Mangroves, coastal and riverside forest, and farmland across mainland and island Southeast Asia | Three of Japan's four main islands: Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu |
| Water | A strong swimmer that will dive and swim underwater to cross water or reach food | Troops at Jigokudani bathe in hot springs in winter |
| Diet | Fruit, seeds, leaves, crabs, shellfish, insects, and small animals | Fruit, seeds, leaves, bark, fungi, insects, and eggs, and shellfish and seaweed on the coast |
| Tools and culture | Some populations use stone tools to crack open shellfish and nuts | Sweet-potato washing, wheat-sluicing, and snowball-making spread through troops by social learning |
| Social life | Groups are built around related females, while young males leave to join other groups | Matrilineal groups of 20 to 100 animals, in which females stay for life and males transfer |
| People | Common around temples, towns, and farmland, and widely used in research | Regarded as an agricultural pest in some areas |
| Conservation status | Endangered, with a decreasing population | Least Concern, with an increasing population |
Crab-eating Macaque vs Japanese Macaque: common questions
Which macaque eats crabs?
The crab-eating macaque, which forages along coasts and riverbanks and eats crabs and other shellfish.
Which macaque bathes in hot springs?
The Japanese macaque, whose troops at Jigokudani bathe in hot springs in winter.
Where do the crab-eating and Japanese macaques live?
The crab-eating macaque lives across mainland and island Southeast Asia, while the Japanese macaque lives on Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu in Japan.