Japanese macaque

primate

Also known as: Macaca fuscata, snow monkey

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June 17, 2026

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The Japanese macaque, also known as the snow monkey (Macaca fuscata), is a species of primate native to Japan. These monkeys are characterized by their shaggy hair, pink faces, and very short tails. They are known for their adaptability, with some populations living in mountainous regions that are snow-covered for much of the year. These Japanese macaques have even learned to utilize hot springs for warmth during colder months.12

Macaques, in general, are robust, gregarious Old World monkeys found across Asia, with one species native to North Africa. They are omnivorous and possess cheek pouches for carrying food. Macaques are considered intelligent but can be ill-tempered as adults.1

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primate
Distribution and abundance
…most remarkable, however, is the Japanese macaque (M. fuscata), which in the north of Honshu lives in mountains that are snow-covered for eight months of the year; some populations have learned to make life more tolerable for themselves by spending most of the day in the hot springs that bubble…
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…most remarkable, however, is the Japanese macaque (M. fuscata), which in the north of Honshu lives in mountains that are snow-covered for eight months of the year; some populations have learned to make life more tolerable for themselves by spending most of the day in the hot springs that bubble…
Read More

macaque
Species
Japanese macaques, or snow monkeys (M. fuscata), are larger, more muscular, and shaggy-haired with pink faces and very short furry tails. These monkeys are important figures in myths and folktales and are seen in representations of the Buddhist adage “See no evil, hear no evil,…
Read More
Japanese macaques, or snow monkeys (M. fuscata), are larger, more muscular, and shaggy-haired with pink faces and very short furry tails. These monkeys are important figures in myths and folktales and are seen in representations of the Buddhist adage “See no evil, hear no evil,…
Read More