Mammals
Barbary macaque
Macaca sylvanus
The Barbary macaque is the only primate living wild in Africa north of the Sahara and the only one in Europe, through the famous Gibraltar colony. It is a tailless monkey with thick golden-brown fur, adapted to cold climates.
In short
The barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) is a species with IUCN conservation status EN (Endangered). It inhabits the cedar, oak and conifer forests of the Atlas and Rif mountains, between 400 and 2,300 m, enduring snow and harsh temperatures. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: request the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the barbary macaque live?
It inhabits the cedar, oak and conifer forests of the Atlas and Rif mountains, between 400 and 2,300 m, enduring snow and harsh temperatures. It lives in large social groups in which even males help raise the young, a rare behaviour among primates.
Is the barbary macaque endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates it Endangered (EN) with a declining population that has more than halved in recent decades. The main threats are the loss of cedar forests, overgrazing, and above all the poaching of infants for the illegal pet trade.
Facts about the barbary macaque
- It is Europe's only wild primate.
- Unlike most macaques, it has no tail.
- Males take an active part in raising the young.
Data source: IUCN Red List — Macaca sylvanus (Endangered)
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.