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Baboons are predominantly quadrupedal, brownish, grizzled terrestrial monkeys among which
adult males are both bigger and longer muzzled than females. There are many anatomical and behavioral differences that distinguish
five major populations. Fossil baboons from South and East Africa go back at least 3 million years but the timing of regional
seperation is still not known.
Olive Baboon ( Papio hamadryas anubis )
Characteristics: Olive baboons have a greenish olive agouti coat. Adult males have longer
hair on the shoulders than the females do. Both genders have a black face and ruffs on the cheeks.
Physical Characteristics: Body length: 23-29 in. Tail length: 17-21 in. Weight: Male 48-82
pounds, Female 32-33 pounds
Habitat: Semidesert, thornscrub, savanna, woodland. Water must be available.
Diet: Fruits, seeds, tubers, roots, leaves, flowers.
Life Span: 30-45 years
Social Structure: Multimale - Multifemale groups. Olive baboons have a rigid dominance hierarchy.
Males determine the group's direction. Females remain in their natal troop.
Group Size: 50-140
Sleep Sites: Tree or cliff faces
Status in the wild: Lower risk, listed as Cites II
Hamadryas Baboon ( Papio hamadryas hamadryas )
Characteristics: The male hamadryas baboon is gray,with a long shoulder cape; the female is
olive brown, without a cape. The skin on the face and bottom is pink. Infants are black.
Physical Characteristics: Head and body length: 30 in. Tail length: 22 in. Weight: Male 47
pounds, Female 27 pounds
Habitat: Arid subdesert and savanna woodland.
Diet: grass seeds, roots, tubers, leaves, and animal prey.
Lifespan: 36 years
Social Structure: Fission-fusion community. Hamadryas baboons have a complex 4-level social
structure unlike that of any other mammal.
Group Size: Foraging group 25-38, troop up to 750.
Sleeping Site: Vertical cliffs , 49-82 feet high
Status in the wild: Rare, listed by the IUCN
Yellow Baboon ( Papio hamadryas cynocephalus )
Characteristics: Yellow baboons are yellowish brown to yellowish grey. The cheek hair is lighter
than the hair on the top of the head. Adult males have a mane.
Physical Characteristics: Head and body length: 24-27 in.
Tail length: 15-22 in. Weight: Male 55 pounds, Female 27 pounds.
Habitat: Thorn scrub, savanna, woodland, and gallery forest. Water must be nearby.
Diet: Fruit, seeds, leaves, flowers, roots, bulbs and animal prey.
Lifespan: 40 years
Social Structure: Multimale-multifemale groups with a distinct dominance hierarchy and overlapping
territories. A juvenile female inherits her mother's rank.
Group Size: 7-198
Sleeping Sites: Tree or cliff faces
Status in the wild: Lower risk, listed as Cites II
Guinea Baboon ( Papio hamadryas papio )
Characteristics: The coat of the guinea baboon is an overall reddish brown. The adult male
does not have as long a mane as those found in other baboon species.
Physical Characteristics: Head and body length 27 in. Tail length 22 in. Weight 38 pounds
Habitat: Evergreen gallery forest and woodland savanna. Guinea baboons avoid tall grass.
Diet: Fruit, seeds, flowers, and animal prey.
Lifespan: 40 years
Social Structure: Multimale-multifemale groups. Guinea baboons may have a rudimentary fission-fussion
social structure.
Group Size: 40-200
Sleeping Sites: Palm trees and kapok trees. These baboons sleep in subgroups of 1-11 individuals.
Status in the wild: Lower risk, listed as Cites II
Chacma Baboon ( Papio hamadryas ursinus )
Characteristics: Chacma baboons are dark yellowish gray to dark brown to almost black. The
face is black, with white hair below the eyes on the muzzle.
Physical Characteristics: Head and body length: 28-32 in. Tail length: 23-25 in. Weight: Male
45 pounds, Female 37 pounds.
Habitat: Woodland, grassland, acacia scrub, and semidesert habitats. Water must be nearby.
Diet: Fruit, seeds, leaves, flowers, and animal prey. Baboons living near the sea eat crabs,
mussels.
Lifespan: 45 years
Social Structure: Variable. Multimale-multifemale groups. Also 1 male - multifemale groups.
Group Size: 20-50 and up to 128
Sleeping Site: Sites that are most secure from predators, such as steep cliff faces, emergent
trees above the canopy, and open woodland trees.
Status in the wild: Lower risk, listed as Cites II
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