Heck’s Macaque

• Common Name: Heck’s Macaque
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 1901
• Monkey Size: 44.5 to 57 cm (17.52 to 22.44 in)
• Skin Color(s): Silky black
• Habitat: Rainforest, mountains
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Native Countries: Indonesia

The Heck’s Macaque^[1] (Macaca hecki) is a macaque native to Sulawesi, Indonesia. This Old-World monkey is diurnal.

• Heck’s macaques are rarely observed or photographed, so it isn’t easy to describe their appearance. However, they do look quite similar to black-crested macaques.
• They both have tiny, almond-shaped brown eyes, silky black fur, and small vestigial tail tips, leading some to misidentify these Old-World Monkeys as great apes.
• However, there are still some significant differences, primarily the spiny black crest on a black-crested macaque’s head, which the Heck’s macaque lacks.
• Heck’s macaques have a broad, prominent forehead and narrow faces with sunken cheeks.

• Heck’s macaques are probably diurnal and semi-arboreal in primary and secondary tropical forests. They move on all fours through the forest floor and the treetops.
• They have a multi-male, multi-female social system with group sizes ranging from 10 to 20 individuals.
• Based on the marital line, there is a hierarchical system between group members, which makes sense since female species do not leave their natal group.
• The open-mouthed gaze is a posture used to express threat, performed with a fixed gaze and an open mouth with covered teeth.
• Due to their frugivorous diet, Heck’s macaques will likely act as seed dispersers throughout their habitat.