rhesus monkey

rhesus monkey
Sand-coloured macaque (Macaca mulatta), widespread in South and Southeast Asian forests.

Rhesus monkeys are 17–25 in. (43–64 cm) long, excluding the furry 8–12-in. (20–30-cm) tail, and weigh 10–24 lb (4.5–11 kg). They eat fruits, seeds, roots, herbs, and insects. They are held sacred in some parts of India. Hardy in captivity, highly intelligent, and lively, they make good pets when young but may become bad-tempered as adults. They have been used frequently in medical research. The determination of the Rh (from rhesus) factor in human blood involves reaction with the blood of this species. See also Rh blood-group system.

Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

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 sand-coloured primate native to forests but also found coexisting with humans in northern India, Nepal, eastern and southern China, and northern Southeast Asia. The rhesus monkey is the best-known species of macaque and measures about 47–64 cm (19–25 inches) long, excluding the furry 20–30-cm tail. Females average about 8.5 kg (19 pounds) and males 11 kg. In both sexes the rump and legs are orange.

      Rhesus monkeys (monkey) can thrive in a variety of climates and habitats. Their natural diet consists of fruits, seeds, roots, herbs, and insects, but, in areas of human habitation, they also eat crops and search through garbage for food. Rhesus monkeys live in groups consisting of several adults of both sexes and their young; males leave the troop at maturity, whereas females tend to stay in the troops in which they were born. Because the rhesus monkey is held sacred in some parts of India and is the object of tolerant affection on the part of many Brahmans (Brahman), it is especially common around temples. Here groups may number 50 to 200 or more, whereas in forests 12 to 20 is usual.

      Hardy in captivity, the rhesus monkey is a highly intelligent, lively animal that is docile when young but may become bad-tempered as an adult. It has also been an important experimental animal for medical and psychological research. The determination of the Rh (from rhesus) factor (Rh blood group system) in human blood involves reaction with the blood of this monkey, and a rhesus was the first monkey to be rocketed into the stratosphere. The rhesus monkey and other macaques are classified in the family Cercopithecidae (the Old World monkeys).

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • rhesus monkey — n a pale brown Asian monkey of the genus Macaca (M. mulatta) often used in medical research * * * Macaca mulatta, a light brown macaque native to India, much used in physiological research. See also Rh factor, under factor. Called also rhesus… …   Medical dictionary

  • rhesus monkey — ► NOUN ▪ a small brown macaque with red skin on the face and rump, native to southern Asia. ORIGIN Latin Rhesus, from Greek Rh sos, a mythical king of Thrace …   English terms dictionary

  • rhesus monkey — см. Приложение 1 (Macaca mulatta). (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • rhesus monkey — rhesus monkey. См. макака резус. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • rhesus monkey — UK [ˈriːsəs ˌmʌŋkɪ] / US [ˈrɪsəs ˌmʌŋkɪ] noun [countable] Word forms rhesus monkey : singular rhesus monkey plural rhesus monkeys a small monkey from southern Asia …   English dictionary

  • Rhesus monkey — Macaque Ma caque , n. [F. See {Macacus}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of short tailed monkeys of the genus {Macaca} (formerly {Macacus}), found in rocky regions of Asia and Africa; as, {Macaca maurus}, the moor macaque of the East… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • rhesus monkey — rhesus mon|key [ˈri:səs ˌmʌŋki] n [Date: 1800 1900; Origin: Rhesus in ancient Greek stories, a king of Thrace] a small monkey from northern India that is often used in medical tests …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • rhesus monkey — /ˈrisəs mʌŋki/ (say reesuhs mungkee) noun a monkey, Macacus rhesus, common in India, much used in medical research. Also, rhesus, rhesus macaque. {Latin, from Greek Rhesos, mythological king of Thrace} …  

  • rhesus monkey — noun Etymology: New Latin Rhesus, genus of monkeys, from Latin, a mythical king of Thrace, from Greek Rhēsos Date: 1841 a pale brown Asian macaque (Macaca mulatta) often used in medical research called also rhesus, rhesus macaque …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • rhesus monkey — noun The rhesus macaque, Macaca mulatta See Also: Rh, RhD, Rhesus factor, Rhesus system …   Wiktionary

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