The white-cheeked macaque (Macaca leucogenys ) is a species of macaque found only in Mêdog County in southeastern Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India. The white-cheeked macaque lives in forest habitats, from tropical forests to primary and secondary evergreen broad-leaved forests and mixed broadleaf-conifer forests. The species was first described by Chinese primatologists Cheng Li, Chao Zhao, and Peng-Fei Fan, in the American Journal of Primatology in 2015. It is one of twenty-three extant species in the genus Macaca, and the most recent to be formally described to science. While the species' exact conservation status has not yet been determined, it is likely threatened by poaching, deforestation, and increased human development of its habitat, much like the other primates which inhabit the area.
Physiologically, the white-cheeked macaque is similar to the other members of the genus Macaca. It is robust and has a short tail. In terms of outward appearance, it closely resembles the Assam macaque, which is one of the reasons the two were believed to be the same species until recently. The main differences between the two include the presence of white, elongated whiskers on the face of the white-cheeked macaque, which are absent from other species. The whiskers begin to grow as the creatures approach sexual maturity, and eventually cover the whole face, giving the animals a rounded facial appearance. The white-cheeked macaque also grows dense hair along its neck, while not growing any hair along its short tail. Additionally, there is a distinct difference in the shapes of the genitalia of the two species; contrary to the arrow-shaped structure present in the Assam macaque, the white-cheeked macaque displays a more rounded structure. This was one of the main characteristics that allowed scientists to realize they were dealing with a new species.
The white-cheeked macaque has been observed in tropical forests at an altitude of 1395 meters, primaryand secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest up to 2420 meters and mixed broadleaf-conifer forests of 2700 meters. The forests in Mêdog, Tibet are protected by Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon Nature Reserve. It is thought they live in small multi-male multi-female groups. When the white-cheeked macaque detects the presence of humans it emits a loud high pitched alarm call, flees, and climbs trees. This call is distinct in frequency from the Assam macaque.
