Dry open woodlands and grasslands, rocky and mountainous regions. They may also be found near human settlements. Family Cercopithecidae, subfamily cercopithecinae, genus macaca, fascicularis subgroup. There are usually several adult males with 2-4 times as many adult females. But one male and one female are dominant.
Females outrank males, and rank is inherited.
The group shares duties such as keeping a look out for danger, and looking after the young. While males often fight each other, females rarely quarrel and usually live in harmony. They are active and loud macaques. But different troops rarely fight, usually the weaker troop will give way to the stronger one. Rhesus macaques raised alone cannot look after their young and don't know how to mate.