[3] The species epithet, nemestrina, is an adjective (derived from Latin Nemestrinus, meaning "the god of groves") modified to agree in gender with the feminine generic name.

[5][6][7] As with other Macaca species, males are larger than females; while males are measured at 50–58 cm (20–23 in) in length and 5–12 kg (11–26 lb) in weight, females are measured at 38–48 cm (15–19 in) in length and 4.5–6 kg (9.9–13.2 lb) in weight.

A study in peninsular Malaysia found them to be the primary, and perhaps the only, seed dispersers of the rattan species Calamus calicarpus (syn.

[12] It is found in the southern half of the Malay Peninsula (only just extending into southernmost Thailand), Borneo, Sumatra and Bangka Island.

[2] Since the 19th century, monkeys including the southern pig-tailed macaque, have been used by humans to harvest coconuts in southeast Asia.