Mythic Legendary · Tier S
Monkey Pillar
Monkey Pillar is a Mythic Legendary Earth Beast inspired by Saruiwa on Iki Island, Japan—a natural rock that looks like a monkey and appears in local legend as a divine island anchor. The species anchor is the Japanese Macaque.
Tier
S · Mythic Legendary
Scientific name
Macaca fuscata
Capture landmark
Saruiwa / Monkey Rock, Iki Island, Nagasaki, Japan
Legendary power
Island Anchor
Capture site
Landmark-only capture
Legendary Earth Beasts can only be captured at Saruiwa / Monkey Rock, Iki Island, Nagasaki, Japan.
The place
Saruiwa / Monkey Rock, Iki Island, Nagasaki, Japan
Saruiwa, or Monkey Rock, is a naturally formed rock on Iki Island that looks like a monkey facing away.
Discover Nagasaki says it appears in legend and is said to be a pillar built by the gods so Iki Island would not be washed away.
The legendary animal
Monkey Pillar
Monkey Pillar teaches Social Compass through troop structure, seasonal adaptation, alert faces, and social learning. Its form fits Saruiwa, where the monkey-shaped rock is tied to a legend of gods anchoring Iki Island.
Open full species page — stats, field guide, and powersBiology inspired by Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata).
Canonical stats
Monkey Pillar battle profile
Canonical game stats
Legendary Earth Beasts use flagship S-tier stats tied to their landmark capture site.
Stats source: Indexed species profile
Dominance
60
Speed
68
Size
42
Intelligence
76
Rarity
72%
Total
318
Field guide
Habitat, traits, and ecology
Habitat: Saruiwa / Monkey Rock, Iki Island, Nagasaki, Japan
Signature traits
- Biological Superpower: social intelligence
- Expressive face and troop signals
- Cold-tolerant primate behavior
- Agile movement through forest and rock
Interesting facts
- Japanese macaques are among the northernmost wild non-human primates.
- Some groups are famous for bathing in hot springs.
- They learn food-handling behaviors socially.
Diet: Omnivorous, eating fruits, leaves, seeds, bark, insects, and seasonal foods.
Predators: Threats include large raptors, carnivores, harsh winters, habitat conflict, and human pressure.
Sleep pattern: Diurnal, moving and feeding by day while resting in groups at night.
Lifespan: Can live for two decades or more in the wild, with longer lives under protection.
Legendary power
Island Anchor
Lesson: Read the group before choosing your move.
Best for: Teamwork, Sharp Observation, Adaptability
Image direction: weathered stone macaque, island sunset, sea cliffs, guardian-pillar pose.
Are these really petrified animals?
No. Monkey Pillar is inspired by a real place where natural rock, erosion, and human imagination overlap—not by a literal fossilized animal frozen in stone.
In AnimalDex, Monkey Pillar is its own catalog species with flagship stats and a field guide. Its biology draws on Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata) so the lesson stays educational and searchable.
FAQ
Where is Monkey Rock located?
On Iki Island in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, where Saruiwa overlooks the sea.
Is Saruiwa a carved statue?
No. It is a natural rock formation. The monkey resemblance and guardian legend are layered onto an eroded coastal pillar.
Sources and further reading
Related Legendary Earth Beasts
Updated 6 Juli 2026
Part of the AnimalDex Legendary Earth Beasts pillar guide. Explore all twenty formations, their flagship species pages, and the landmarks where they can be captured.
Read the full Legendary Earth Beasts guide