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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Black Macaque” is a rare card of the Memes World series 76, number 22609 of the collection, and the 91st best-known meme of its 298 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “Black Macaque” meme mean?
The macaque stands for the spontaneous grin, supreme self-confidence and a selfie nailed on the first try. Teeth on display, the animal seems to pose with total pride, so people post it to congratulate themselves on a photo, a tiny achievement or a smug moment. The image also nods to a more serious question: who owns a picture taken with no human pressing the shutter? That mix of visual humor and cultural trivia makes it a favorite reply for anyone who knows the legal story.
Where does the “Black Macaque” meme come from?
The black macaque is a Celebes crested macaque, a critically endangered species living in Sulawesi, Indonesia. British wildlife photographer David Slater had been traveling there since 2008, and the photos in which a macaque shot itself with his equipment were published in July 2011. On 9 July 2011, a Wikimedia Commons editor uploaded them as public-domain works with no human author, which set off the dispute. In September 2015, PETA sued Slater on behalf of the monkey, named Naruto. A federal district court dismissed the case in January 2016, and the Ninth Circuit ruled for Slater in April 2018, holding that animals cannot hold copyright under US law.
- 4 July 2011The macaque photos are published.
- 22 September 2015PETA sues David Slater on behalf of the macaque, named Naruto.
- 23 April 2018The Ninth Circuit rules for Slater: animals cannot hold copyright.
How to use the “Black Macaque” meme
- Post the macaque under a flawless group photo.
- Reply to a bragging selfie with the grinning monkey.
- Illustrate a slightly too-proud smile after a small win.
- Bring up the case in a debate on copyright and AI-made images.
Also searched as
- Monkey selfie
- Naruto the macaque
- Celebes crested macaque selfie
- monkey selfie meme
- black macaque selfie
- monkey selfie copyright
- naruto macaque selfie
- david slater monkey selfie
- celebes crested macaque selfie
- monkey selfie meaning
The “Black Macaque” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 22609 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Rare |
| Collection | Memes World series 76 |
| Fame | 50/100 · #91 of 298 |
| Recycle value | 10 MemeCoins (30 in Shiny) |
| Suggested by | @pitch0o |
How to get the “Black Macaque” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Black Macaque comes out of the Memes World series 76 as a rare card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 10 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “Black Macaque”
More cards of the Memes World series 76
Frequently asked questions
Who took the monkey selfie?
A macaque photographed itself with photographer David Slater’s camera. US courts held that an animal cannot own a copyright.
What species is the selfie monkey?
A Celebes crested macaque, a critically endangered species found on Sulawesi in Indonesia.
What was the selfie monkey’s name?
PETA called him Naruto in its 2015 lawsuit, which asked who owned the rights to the photo.
Who won the monkey selfie lawsuit?
The Ninth Circuit ruled for David Slater in April 2018, finding that an animal cannot bring a copyright claim.
How do I get the Black Macaque meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Black Macaque” is a rare card of the Memes World series 76. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the Black Macaque card?
It is a Rare card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: Wikipedia — Monkey selfie copyright dispute · checked on October 18, 2026.
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