Animal Profiles
Mammals

Baboon

Papio

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Baboons are social African monkeys. This account focuses on the olive baboon (Papio anubis), an adaptable omnivore that spends much of its time on the ground.

Papio anubis (baboon)

Representative species: Papio anubis.

Giles Laurent · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Olive baboons occupy a broad belt of sub-Saharan Africa. They use savanna, grasslands and wooded habitats; other baboon species have different distributions.
Habitat
Savanna, Grassland, Rainforest
Diet
Omnivore
Food
Fruit, seeds, roots, grass, insects and small vertebrates are eaten.

Classification

Common name
Baboon
Browse group
Mammals
Scientific name or taxon
Papio
Source classification
Mammalia

Three things to know

  • Males are larger than females.
  • Adult males develop a mane.
  • Troops travel and forage together.

Habitat and range

Olive baboons occupy a broad belt of sub-Saharan Africa. They use savanna, grasslands and wooded habitats; other baboon species have different distributions.

Appearance and adaptations

Olive-grey fur and a long muzzle characterize this species. Males have conspicuous canine teeth and longer hair around the front of the body.

Diet and behaviour

Fruit, seeds, roots, grass, insects and small vertebrates are eaten. Troops contain males, females and young. Daily movements connect feeding areas with sleeping sites in trees or on rocks, while social relationships structure group life.

Sources

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