Considered to be the largest monkey of the Old World baboon. Africa and the Southwestern expanses of the Arabian coast are inhabited by this interesting and peculiar animal. They differ from all their other brethren in their amazing endurance, aggressiveness and ability to adapt.

It is difficult for them to sit in one place; baboons prefer eternal wandering to a sedentary lifestyle. In dangerous everyday life, they experience hunger and thirst quite often. Perhaps this is where the reasons for their aggressive behavior come from. These are the most formidable.

Features and habitat of the baboon

On baboon photo everyone can see their distinctive features from all other monkeys. Their snout is elongated due to widened maxillary bones and large canine teeth. The animal's nostrils are located at the end of its snout, while in many other species of monkeys they are located on the upper side.

Baboons have very powerful teeth

U baboon monkey cheek pouches are noticeably developed. The length of his limbs is almost the same. Its tail is relatively short. And the fur is very elongated, which from the outside looks like a mantle on the body, and in the area of ​​the head it looks like a large beard.

Distinctive feature monkeys of the genus baboons are their bare buttocks, which are highly developed, elastic and calloused. They have a bright red color. This property is present not because of increased pigmentation, but because baboons have especially developed blood vessels in that area.

Pictured is a crested baboon

It is this place that reveals the animal’s mood. If the animal is from genus of baboons very excited that it becomes especially pronounced. During illness, the place becomes pale, and after death it disappears completely. These are smart and developed creatures.

For example, at bear baboons its own specific social structure has long been developed. The pack is led by the strongest male. He manages to keep the upper hand over all other baboons through intimidation. Young and inexperienced baboon males are subject to frequent attacks, which makes it possible to remind them who is boss in the pack.

This leader also zealously defends his fellow men from the attacks of “outsiders.” Quite often such battles can end in the death of the leader. There is also inequality among females. The female that the leader preferred, and subsequently their cubs, are held in greater esteem than all other animals.

Pictured is a bear baboon

U Cameroon baboons the social structure looks a little different. Due to the inability to run fast enough and the lack of secluded shelter in the savannas, which is where these animals prefer to live, they also live in packs.

Only, if bear baboons are protected from enemies by their leader, then Cameroonian baboons prefer to take a common defense and protect themselves from the enemy with common efforts. Young males of these animals line up in a crescent formation and, in a desperate and fierce struggle, cut off the enemy from his pack, brutally dealing not with the attacking enemy, but with the victim.

In the pack frilled baboons quite often quarrels with fights can arise. Their main leader manages to stop all this chaos with just one fierce look. Unity and pronounced courage arise in these animals in the event of danger threatening them. At such moments they are not afraid even with...

Pictured is a frilled baboon

There are rumors about an arrogant and aggressive temperament African baboon. Ancient legends say that if these people feel strongly threatened by a person, they may even throw stones at them. Therefore, when meeting them, it is better not to tempt fate, but rather to simply bypass them without even looking them in the eye.

Yellow baboons or, as they are also called, they react differently to enemy attacks. They scatter in different directions, creating inconvenience for the enemy when choosing a victim. These dexterous and intelligent animals have thinking close to that of humans. For this, many peoples consider them a deity.

The photo shows a yellow baboon

Character and lifestyle of the baboon

Character is something that every living being has individually. But besides this, in the animal world there are types that have character qualities specific only to them. The dangerous and aggressive baboon is precisely what distinguishes it from all other animals.

They are quick-tempered and become hateful towards those who have encroached on their freedom. This is especially noticeable when animals reach older ages. The older the baboon, the greater the likelihood that he can attack his potential victim without even having any apparent reason to do so.

Having flown into a terrible rage in such cases, baboons are even capable of murder. The main weapons are sharp fangs and strong paws. In anger, a baboon can simply tear its victim to shreds. In addition to being smart, baboons are also very careful. Usually they never attack a person first.

But if you offend them, or even worse, their cub, then you can’t expect any mercy from them; they attack with all their aggression and hatred and completely deal with the offender. When meeting this animal, it is not advisable to reach out to them.

Baboon food

Baboons feed mainly on roots, tubers, bulbs and insects. Sometimes they can afford to feast on larger prey, such as chicken from a nearby farm.

Strong male baboon capable of driving and destroying a gazelle. During the day, the animals search for food each separately, still trying to stay close to their own. And towards evening they unite into a large flock.

Baboons that live close to people or in nurseries calmly accept human attention and happily feast on treats from their hands. There were cases when a playful animal snatched some kind of treat right from the hands of a passer-by and it looked funny.

Reproduction and lifespan of a baboon

Adult female baboons can mate monthly. During the mating season they form pairs. It is worth giving them credit for their loyalty. During this period, the “gentleman” baboon has a desire to court only one female.

The average gestation period for a female of this animal is about six months. She usually gives birth to one baby or twins. Females protect their newborns with all care and love. For a long time they carry them at their breasts, the babies hold tightly to their mother's fur there.

A little later they move onto their backs. Over time, babies grow up and leave their mothers to play with their peers. But even at this time they are under the vigilant control and guardianship of their elders. The average lifespan of baboons is 30 to 40 years.

Baboons (as well as closely related mandrills, drills and geladas) are the largest living primates after the apes. The genus of baboons (Papio) is represented by five species. They all live in Africa, and only the hamadryas’ range also extends to Asia. All baboons are formidable and aggressive monkeys. Male baboons have truly huge fangs (however, in females they are by no means small), which have the shape of a curved dagger, with grooves, which probably give the fang greater strength. Surprisingly, but true: the fangs of baboons look even more terrifying than the fangs of carnivores.
Representatives of the genus Papio are very intelligent animals. In terms of intellectual development, they immediately follow the great apes (and most likely gibbons). All baboons are terrestrial monkeys, spending most of their time on the ground. However, they are excellent at climbing trees and, for safety reasons, prefer to sleep on them. They feed mainly on plant food (which is obtained both on the ground and in trees), but they also eat arthropods, bird eggs and various small animals. In addition, baboons sometimes hunt small mammals, such as baby gazelles.
They live in large families or flocks (you can hardly call it a herd). The number of individuals in a flock can vary greatly. There is a strict hierarchy in a troop of baboons. At the head is a seasoned male, around whom are his females and subordinate males. Females with cubs enjoy special privileges. The small cubs in the pack are also treated quite loyally. The attitude towards teenagers and young adults is very harsh.
Let's take a quick look at each of the five types of baboons individually.
Anubis baboon (Papio anubis) along with the chacma, it is the largest of the baboons. It is lower than the chakma, but looks more impressive. Partly due to the lush vegetation on the head and front of the body, but not as long as that of the hamadryas. In my opinion, the anubis, together with the Guinea baboon, is one of the most beautiful representatives of its genus, but much more impressive and, I would say, majestic. Its coat color is greenish, which is why it is sometimes called the olive or green baboon. The weight of anubis can reach about 30 kg, and I cannot say for sure who is heavier, anubis or chacma.
This is the most widespread species of baboons. Its range covers 25 African countries, stretching from Mali to Ethiopia and Tanzania.
Yellow baboon or baboon (Papio cynocephalus) a relatively small baboon. The color of the coat, as the name suggests, is yellowish. Distributed in East Africa, from Kenya and Tanzania to Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Hamadryas (Papio hamadryas)– a frequent visitor to zoos, but in nature it is a rather rare species. The coat color is light, especially in mature males. The fur, which is longer than that of other types of baboons, forms a lush mantle in males. They live in large groups, which can number up to two hundred animals.
Distributed in North Africa. Part of the hamadryas' range also extends to Asia.
Guinea baboon or sphinx (Papio papio)- a very cute representative of the baboon family. It has short fur of a pleasant reddish-yellow hue, due to which it is sometimes called the red baboon. Distributed in West Africa: Guinea, Gambia, Senegal, southern Mauritania and western Mali.
Chacma or bear baboon (Papio ursinus) considered the largest of the baboons. The weight of males reaches 30 kg or more. Their muzzle is very elongated, their limbs are longer than those of other types of baboons.

Photos:

Yellow baboon or baboon.

Hamadryad.

Guinea baboon.

Chacma, or bear baboon.

Anubis baboon.

Chacma or bear baboon (lat. Papio ursinus) is considered one of the largest and most dangerous baboons. The body length of this primate from the monkey family often reaches 115 cm with a weight of about 31 kg. Unlike other types of baboons, it does not have a mane; its strong and muscular body is covered with gray or brown hair. The elongated dark red muzzle is slightly reminiscent of a dog's. There are whitish rings around the deep-set eyes.

Bear baboons live in the southern part of the African continent. Here their range includes countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa. At the same time, the size of primates and the color of their coat are different in different regions. So, for example, the smallest chacmas live in the Kalahari Desert.

The character of these monkeys is so absurd that local residents recommend staying away from them. And not in vain, because bear baboons easily deal with hunting dogs and are even capable of organizing organized attacks. Local shepherds have more than once been powerless witnesses of how baboons left their dogs with their noses and stole newborn lambs from the herd.

Their natural enemy - - knows perfectly well that you can only hunt cubs, and even then, with great caution, otherwise he can get a serious hit in his mustachioed face. In case of danger, the strongest males from the pack quickly hide the females with their cubs inside the circle, and with particular ferocity they bare their sharp fangs, ready at any moment to tear the offender into pieces.

Looking at the long and scary teeth of bear baboons, it’s easy to guess that they feed not only on fruits and roots. In addition to plant foods, their diet includes insects, small vertebrates, bird eggs and the birds themselves. They sometimes kill leopard kittens or antelope calves, and those that live off the Cape of Good Hope have diversified their menu with shark eggs and bivalves.

Bear baboons live in large mixed groups of 30-40 individuals with one male at the head. During the day they roam the ground in search of food, but remain alert all the time, ready to climb a tree at any moment. At dusk, they go to spend the night in caves, climb steep cliffs or huge trees, in general, they hide where predators cannot reach them.

Bear baboons have an interesting social structure. The pack is led by the strongest male, who controls the weaker ones through intimidation. He often attacks young males and beats them to remind them who is in charge. But when meeting another flock of aggressive baboons, it is he who will have to fight with the leader of the group in order to protect his charges. And very often such fights end in the death of the loser.

There is also a certain hierarchy among females. The lucky girl who enjoys the leader’s increased attention is considered the most important. Moreover, her children also enjoy special honor among the members of the pack.

Of course, any of the “ladies” dreams of occupying such an enviable “position in society.” However, females allow the dominant male to approach them only during ovulation, but at other times they willingly have affairs with other males. Their pregnancy lasts about 6 months and ends with the birth of one baby. The mother carefully takes care of him and does not allow anyone to get close to her treasure. Even when he grows up and gets stronger, only her closest friends will be able to play with him.