Baboons, how do they work and 10 Interesting Facts about them

Avatar of Shaimaa Olwan
Updated on: Educator Review By: Michelle Connolly

Baboons are one of the types of monkeys that are easy to identify, as they are characterised by tufts of hair on both sides of the face and hairless bottoms, which are often red. The baboon is considered one of the ancient world’s monkeys, and the baboon’s tail differs from the rest of the monkeys, as it is not used like the hand of the rest of the monkeys.

One of the giant monkeys in the world, which is characterised by its robust structure, belongs to the ancient world, and there are five different species. The average lifespan of a baboon monkey is 30 years in the wild, and what distinguishes the baboon monkey is its nose which resembles a dog’s nose, with strong jaws and sharp teeth to help it defend itself from danger.

These monkeys have relatively short and tangled tails. Both males and females have thick brown or light grey fur. The brow margin of the baboons is wide to protect their eyes. The faces of the female baboons are black. The males have a distinctive mantle of silver hair and a pale pink face. Baboons are highly adaptable animals. Still, their numbers are declining throughout their natural range due to hunting and habitat loss.

They belong to the Old World Monkey, a group of primates found under the Legion of Old World monkeys. It is native to Africa and Asia in tropical rainforests. Old World monkeys include primates such as baboons and macaques.

Baboons 2

Size

Baboons are large and robust. It is a native animal in the Horn of Africa and the southwestern fringes of the Arabian Peninsula. These areas provide them with a natural environment characterised by the lack of predators for this type of baboon compared to Central and Southern Africa, where other baboons reside. The sacred baboon was a sacred animal for the ancient Egyptians, and it appeared in different roles in the ancient Egyptian religion, hence the name of the sacred baboon.

Sacred baboons are considered the smallest baboons in the world. They are found in Ethiopia and are found in southern Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen. Males weigh 17 kg, and females weigh 10 kg.

This species is distinguished by the difference in size between the male and female species (males are almost twice the size of the females, which is common among baboons). It is also distinguished by the difference in colouration between adults as the adult male has a silver-white head and back cover that begins to appear from age ten, while the females do not have any cover and are brown in colour. The colour of the face ranges from shades of brown to brick red. This type of monkey spends most of its day on the ground.

These monkeys have large heads with long dog-like muzzles and cheek pouches for storing food. Males are often twice the size of females with sharp claws that help them defend themselves, but their exact length depends on the species they have. Chacma Baboon is the largest, while Baboon Guinea is the smallest species, and baboons have fur with an innocent appearance and also differ in colour.

Baboons are considered the largest species of monkeys. Their length is up to 60 to 86 cm; their tails add about 41 to 58 cm to their length. Their weight ranges between 22 and 37 kg.

Habitat

Some monkeys live in trees, others live in savanna and mountainous places, and these monkeys are social animals. They like to live in large groups where tasks are divided, and some soldiers protect the members. They also choose their leader, who is often more potent. The eldest of them is the one who marries many of the females in the group.

Baboons are found in specific regions of the world, such as Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, where four baboons live in Savannah: Chakma, Olive, Yellow and Guinea. Other species live in semi-arid habitats; some of them can be found in tropical forests. And the type of Hamadryas lives in the hills bordering the Red Sea, and like other types of monkeys, the baboons spend most of their time on the ground, but they climb trees to eat, sleep, or watch.

Baboons climb tall trees to protect themselves from predators and rest at night. They prefer to live in places close to drinking water. Baboons are strong animals with protruding eyebrows, strong limbs, and long tails.

Baboons one

Behaviour

Baboons are social creatures, and groups of baboons are called herds, where the herd consists of dozens to hundreds of baboons. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, the largest herd of baboons includes about 300. Groups of baboons sleep with each other as they care for and protect each other.

Young baboons play with each other in several games, such as wrestling, chasing, and swinging between the branches. The herd is usually led by male baboons, where the status of males is determined by age and size, while females are only determined by birth order.

As one of the old-world monkeys, it is a burly and aggressive animal. These monkeys are distinguished by the availability of pockets in their mouth to store food in them and their long tail and prominent eyebrows. What determines the male baboon from the female is its double size and the presence of thick hair central in the neck area.

Baboons share 91% of the genetic material with humans, and there are five different types of baboons, and their numbers are widely spread, and they are the second most common primate after humans.

They live in the tropics in the continents of Asia and Africa. They are divided into two main types: old-world monkeys in Asia and Africa and modern world monkeys in North and Latin America, and the main difference between them is that New World monkeys have long tails that they can use.

Food and Prey

Some believe that monkeys only eat bananas, but this is incorrect, as monkeys are animals that eat meat and plants, and some monkeys eat nuts, seeds, flowers, and fruits, in addition to other types of monkeys that eat lizards and insects.

Baboons feed on meat and plants, as they usually eat herbs, fruits, seeds, roots, tree bark, rodents, birds, young antelopes, sheep, and other mammals. They also eat different types of monkeys and maybe a pest by destroying and eating crops near their home.

Baboons are omnivores and are known to eat plants and small animals. Baboons prefer fruits, herbs, seeds, bark and roots. They also eat birds, rodents and small and large mammals, such as antelopes and sheep.

Strain

The female baboon shows its readiness to mate when her bottom becomes swollen and red, which is a sign for the male to start mating. The average bottom growth rate of about 16.5 cm has been recorded. After mating, the baboon female’s pregnancy takes about six months, and the female usually gives birth to one baboon in one pregnancy, but there is a record of twin births.

The gestation period for female baboons lasts 187 days compared to other monkeys, such as the chimpanzee, which lasts 237 days. They reach maturity after five years. A baby baboon is called an infant, its weight ranges from about one kilogram, and the infant clings to its mother attached to her breast fur while she moves throughout the day.

Before the baboon reaches the age of two years, it begins to mature and grow every three months until it becomes an adult at the age of six to eight. Male baboons usually leave the herd upon puberty, while females do not. Males can join other groups and leave them again at any time during their lives. Baboons live about 30 years in the wild, and female baboons can reproduce even at an advanced age, unlike a human female.

The appearance of males differs clearly from that of females because males have long hair around the neck and are twice the size of females. Baboons have strong, prominent jaws and large pockets in their cheeks in which they store food.

Baboon Protection

Humans and hunting cheetahs are among the main risks threatening baboons’ lives. Baboons are not at risk of extinction, as they are on the list of animals least vulnerable to extinction except for one type; the Guinea baboons, which was classified among the animals likely to be exposed to extinction. Because of the loss of 20 to 25 per cent of their habitat during the last thirty years due to fishing and agricultural activities carried out by humans.

Baboon Species

Baboons are classified according to colour into six different species:

  1. 1.         Hamadryas baboon.
  2. 2.         Guinea baboon.
  3. 3.         Chacma baboon.
  4. 4.         Kinda baboon.
  5. 5.         Yellow baboon.
  6. 6.         Olive baboon.

Hamadryas baboon

Also called the Sacred baboon is a native animal in the Horn of Africa and the southwestern fringes of the Arabian Peninsula. These areas provide them with a natural environment characterised by the lack of predators for this type of baboon compared to Central and Southern Africa, where other baboons reside. The sacred baboon was a sacred animal for the ancient Egyptians, and it appeared in different roles in the ancient Egyptian religion, hence the name of the sacred baboon.

Sacred baboons are considered the smallest baboons in the world. They are found in Ethiopia and southern Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen. Males weigh 17 kg, and females weigh 10 kg.

This species is distinguished by the difference in size between the male and female species (males are almost twice the size of the females, which is common among baboons). It is also distinguished by the difference in colouration between adults as the adult male has a silver-white head and back cover that begins to appear from age ten, while the females do not have any cover and are brown. As for the faces, the colours range from shades of brown to brick red.

Baboons 3

Facts about Baboons

1.            They can talk to some extent and have about ten expressions they use to communicate.

2.            They are 91% genetically similar to humans, according to Amboseli’s research on baboons.

3.            Guinea baboon can yawn in three ways, which it uses to communicate.

4.            When there is a food shortage, females stop mating and procreating until conditions change.

5.            In normal conditions, females give birth once every two years.

6.            When a group of baboons screams, their voices can be heard from a distance of approximately 4.8 km.

7.            Smiling or tightening their lips is a sign of aggression. Also, yawning, bobbing the head, and shaking the head and shoulders forward are signs of attack.

8.            They express sympathy and reconciliation with each other by taking care of each other.

Where do baboons live?

Baboons are found all over the African continent. Still, as their numbers continue to decrease, the extent of their natural spread continues to decline, as they are found in savannahs, rocky deserts, and rainforests. Wide range of habitats while the Guinea baboon is confined to a small area in the west, the yellow baboon usually inhabits the east, and the Chakma baboon is found farther south, over a range that covers the southern tip of Africa.

Baboon Lifestyle

Monkeys are boisterous animals, and to communicate with each other, they give different sounds to warn of danger, to contact a partner, and even to share with their young. Although communication with monkeys has been studied for a long time, there are many details and facts we don’t know yet.

Baboons are social animals, as they live in large and varied groups, and their numbers may reach hundreds. These groups contain both male and female sexes in addition to their young, and strong bonds are linked between them as they lunch and sleep together. During the day, baboons divide themselves into small groups. Each group contains 4 or 5 females and young led by a dominant male who tries to drive away the other males.

Baboons live in groups with the aim of protection. They are constantly looking for dangerous predators, especially in the open, and in the event of a threat to them, they publish a loud sound to prepare. At the same time, the males run to attack, and the females and the young ones hide safely among the trees. The methods of communication between each other include vocal calls, facial expressions, and even signalling.

If you enjoyed learning about this fascinating animal, why not check out more fantastic facts about other animals: Koalas, Land Animals, Sharks, Raccoons, Moon and Sun Bears, Rats, Chickens, Cats, Pandas, Monkeys, endangered animals, waterfowl and Whales.

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