Also known as the snow monkey, the Japanese macaque is the most northern-living non-human primate. These monkeys are known for their intelligence, being the only animal other than humans and raccoons known to wash their food, a behavior that was observed being invented by one monkey in 1953 and then passed on to subsequent monkey generations. As with humans, different groups of Japanese macaques have distinct eating habits and child-rearing practices.
The females outnumber males 3 to 1, and the monkeys spend much of their time lounging in volcanic hot springs. These monkeys have also been observed rolling snowballs, seemingly just for fun.
The Japanese macaque is thought to be the inspiration behind the saying 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.'
