Some animals are remembered for their size, their speed, or their colours. The Myanmar snub-nosed monkey is remembered for something far more unusual: rain appears to make it sneeze.
This rare primate lives in the mountain forests of northern Myanmar, close to the border with China. Its scientific name is Rhinopithecus strykeri, and it was first officially recorded by scientists in 2010.
What makes the monkey so distinctive is its upturned nose. According to local people, when rain falls, water can collect in the animal’s nostrils, causing it to sneeze. Local knowledge reportedly helped researchers understand how hunters could locate the monkeys during wet weather.
Because of this, the monkey has often been described as taking shelter or keeping its head lowered during rainy periods. It is a strange detail, but also a very human one, many of us know the feeling of trying to hide from bad weather.
Beyond the curious rain story, the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey is also seriously at risk. The species is listed as Critically Endangered, with only a small wild population believed to remain across parts of Myanmar and China.
Conservation groups have highlighted threats such as habitat loss, hunting, and the difficulty of protecting animals that live in remote mountain regions. Fauna & Flora says the species was first officially recorded by a team that included its staff, and notes that local people had already recognised its unusual rain-related behaviour.
It is a reminder that local communities often know the natural world long before science gives a species a formal name. In this case, a monkey with an upturned face became known not only for its rarity, but for a sneeze that made the world pay attention.
Funny, fragile, and unforgettable, the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey is one of nature’s odd little wonders.
