Hamadryas Baboon

• Common Name: Hamadryas Baboon
• Taxonomy Classification Year: 1758
• Monkey Size: 61.0 to 76.2 cm (24.02 to 30.00 in)
• Skin Color(s): Grayish-brown to olive-brown
• Habitat: Desert or dune, savanna or grassland, mountains
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Native Countries: Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea

The Hamadryas baboon^[1] (Papio hamadryas) is a baboon species in the Old World monkey family.

• It’s the northernmost of all baboons and is native to the Horn of Africa and the southwestern region of the Arabian Peninsula.
• These species are highly sexually dimorphic in size and fur character. Adult males weigh about 21.5 kg and females approximately 9.4 kg.
• The coat of the males is grayish, mainly brown, with the belly colored like the back or darker.
• The cheek hair is lighter and forms “whiskers” that merge into a distinct, fluffy silver mane.
• The long back hair is wavy. Females are solid olive-brown. The skin can be highly colored in some individuals.
• In both male and female species, the skin surrounding the ischial callosities is bright red or pink.
• Males have a similar fur color on the face and muzzle, while females have dull, grayish-brown faces.
• The tail is long and curved, with an elegant arch at the base.
• The natal coat is black, although it sheds around 6 months of age when it is replaced by olive-brown fur like that of the adult female.

Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii), Leopards (Panthera pardus) and Caracals (Caracal caracal) are the predators of Hamadryas Baboons^[§] in the wild.

• The Hamadryas baboon was a sacred animal to the ancient Egyptians. It appeared in various roles in ancient Egyptian religion, hence its alternative common name, “sacred baboon“.
• They are very social animals, displaying a complex, multi-level social structure.
• Groups of Hamadryas baboons appear to play an essential role in enabling baboons to compete for roosting and access to watering holes.
• Males seem to bond with kin throughout their lives. In this respect, Hamadryas baboons differ from other representatives of the Papio genus.
• All hamadryas baboons except infants grunt rhythmically when approaching another animal to indicate intentions of an affiliation.