9781422276396

INTRODUCTION

Japanese macaques are one of the few species of apes and monkeys to live away from the tropics. They are found in Japan and their thick fur helps them survive the harsh winters.

A pes and monkeys are our closest living relatives, and it is impossible not to find them fascinating. In their behavior we see a reflection of our own. While it is inappropriate to anthropomorphize—that is, to interpret their behavior purely in human terms—we do, nonetheless, have a lot in common with them. A study of apes and monkeys can tell us, on occasion, more than we might care to know about ourselves. Apes and monkeys range in size from the tiny pygmy mar- moset to the huge gorilla. Despite this considerable diversity in physical appearance, apes and monkeys show surprisingly little

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