Masterful Macaques

When you think monkeys, you might imagine them living in a tropical rain forest.  Japanese macaques are the northern-most primates (other than man) living in areas where the snow flies several months of the year.  This is why they've earned the name snow monkey, but they've learned how to stay warm by visiting their local hot springs.

Source:  Wikipedia

Japanese macaques live in matrilineal groups with females living in their birth group all their lives while the males leave and join different groups to prevent in-breeding.

Mom with baby  Source:  Wikipedia

Their diet includes plants and herbs, fruit, nuts, insects, seeds, roots, and even fish.  In the northern most areas they add on the pounds in the fall, storing fat to last them through the winter.  These macaques also live in sub-tropical forests in their southern most range.

And believe it or not, a group of Japanese macaques were transported to Texas where they had to learn how to cool off instead of warm up, and having some fun at the same time.  Check out this video.

For a couple more videos and more info, click here and here.