Barbary macaque and exclusion of monkeys from water sources are major causes of cedar bark stripping behaviour in Barbary macaques. Density of macaques, however, is less correlated with the behaviour than the other causes considered. The Barbary macaque was named by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, along with numerous other species named in that same year. The scientific name is "Macaca sylvanus". Phylogenetic and molecular analysis with other primates has been done. Studies concerning interspecific DNA variation within the genus "Macaca" show that the Barbary macaque is most related to the Asian macaques. Scientists have also studied the Y-chromosome; however, this has proven
Barbary macaque males who have helped them in the past, this is not as important as relatedness in determining coalitions. Males avoid conflicting with higher ranking males and will more frequently form coalitions with the higher ranking male in a conflict. Close grouping of males occur when infant Barbary macaques are present. Interactions between males are commonly initiated when a male presents an infant macaque to an adult male who is not caring for an infant, or when an unattached male approaches males who are caring for infants. This behaviour leads to a type of social buffering, which reduces the number of