The baboon is seven species of Old World monkey in the genus Papio that have evolved from tree-dwelling ancestors to become terrestrial, walking on all four limbs. Typical open-country monkeys, they are found all over the savannah, semi-desert, and lightly forested regions of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. (The species of baboons known as the mandrill and the drill, however, live in more forested habitats.) The face is elongated and rather dog-like, and the jaw carries a long row of grinding molar teeth.
Baboons feed on the ground, eating seeds, tubers, grass, insects, and small animals, and this makes them vulnerable to predators. Troops of baboons will often associate with a herd of ungulates such as impala, which are alert and will give warning of approaching predators. The association is of mutual benefit, as baboons are powerful animals and give protection to the impala from smaller predators. The hamadryas baboon, Papio hamadryas, is 76 centimetres tall with a tail 61 centimetres long; the females have brown hair and the males have grey hair with a long mane. They live in highly organized societies of twenty-five to thirty animals, and occasionally in groups of up to 200. The society is usually hierarchical, and the males defend females with young. A single offspring is born and it is carried by its mother for several months. Other species are the common, or savannah, baboon, Papio cynocephalus, and the gelada baboon, Theropithecus gelada. Research Baboon
The drill (Cynocephalus leucophoeus) is a species of baboon closely allied to the mandrill, but smaller and less fierce. Like the mandrill it inhabits west Africa and differs chiefly in the absence of the brilliant colours which mark the mandrill's face. The face and ears are bare and of a glossy black colour, the palms of the hands and soles of the feet are also naked and of a deep copper colour. Research Drill
The Mandrill (Papio maimon) is a West African baboon. It has a bright red nose and blue striped cheeks. The buttocks exhibit red callosities and the fur is brown with a yellow beard. Research Mandrill
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Baboon
