The Hamadryas Baboon (Papio hamadryas) is a medium-sized primate (mammal) in the monkey family.
The Hamadryas Baboon male has silver-white fur and the female has brown fur. Its face can be red, light-brown or dark-brown. The male has a large mane and brow over its eyes, whereas the female does not have a mane, nor a brow. Its tail ends in a small tuft (clump of hair). It has sharp canine teeth.
Hamadryas Baboon
It grows to about 80 centimetres (31 inches) tall. Its tail is 40-60 centimetres (16-24 inches) long. It is the smallest of all the baboons.
The Hamadryas Baboon is native to the southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen and Saudi Arabia), and the Horn of Africa – Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea. It prefers semi-deserts, savannahs, and rocky areas.
It is diurnal, active during the day.
It is omnivorous, eating fowers, seeds, grass, roots, and leaves, as well as insects, reptiles, and small mammals.
The Hamadryas Baboon is a social animal, and is seen in groups of up to 200 individuals. Females do most of the parenting. Females are pregnant for about 165 days, before giving birth to one baby.
Hamadryas Baboon
Hamadryas Baboon
Hamadryas Baboon
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM