Any of a group of medium-sized Old World monkeys. Various species live in forests from the Far East to North Africa. The rhesus monkey and the Barbary ape belong to this group. (Genus Macaca.)
Macaques range from long-tailed to tailless types, and have well-developed cheek pouches to carry food.
Orange symbolizes the Sahara Desert. The orange disc represents the sun. Green recalls the country's forests. White stands for the River Niger. Effective date: 23 November 1959.