How does a Guinea Baboon clean its ears?

The Guinea Baboon (Papio papio) is a terrestrial primate mammal in the Cercopithecidae family of monkeys. It is not an ape (apes do not have tails). The Guinea Baboon is a monkey, because monkeys have tails. 

It is native to West Africa in countries such as Guinea, Senegal, Gambia, Mali, and Mauritania.

The Guinea Baboon has small ears that are similar to human ears.

The Guinea Baboons (photographed) at the Parc Zoologique have ear tags to identify them and to keep track of their health and growth.

The Guinea Baboon cleans its ears by sticking its finger in its ear, and wiping the outer ear. The ear has a waxy substance – it’s not really wax – it’s called cerumen. All mammals have cerumen. Cerumen helps to keep the ear clean because it protects the ear against bacteria, fungus, and water.

The cerumen of the inner ear and the ear canal moves towards the outer ear, due to jaw movement. It takes dirt and debris with it, and it is eliminated by dropping out of the ear.

The Guinea Baboon has distinct short fingers (not paws like cats, dogs, and lions), so it sticks its fingers in its ears to clean them. 

Location of photographs: Parc Zoologique de Paris in Bois de Vincennes, France

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM