Residents of Africa are sure that the baboon is more dangerous than the leopard. The opinion was drawn from close encounters with these evil, nosy, pugnacious and cunning monkeys, who constantly appear in crime reports.
Description of the baboon
From the point of view of most zoologists, the genus Papio (baboons) includes five species of primates from the family Ape - anubis, baboon, hamadryas, Guinea baboon and bear baboon (chacma). Some scientists, confident that the division into five is incorrect, combine all varieties into one group.
Appearance
Males are almost 2 times larger than their females, and the most representative among Papio is the bear baboon, growing up to 1.2 m with a weight of 40 kg. The Guinea baboon is recognized as the smallest, its height does not exceed half a meter and weighs only 14 kg..
The color of the fur varies (depending on the species) from brown to grayish-silver. All primates are distinguished by strong jaws with sharp fangs and close-set eyes. A female baboon cannot be confused with a male - males have more impressive fangs and noticeable white manes adorning their heads. There is no hair on the face, and the skin is colored black or pink.
Important! There is no fur on the buttocks, but this part of the body is equipped with pronounced ischial calluses. With the onset of the breeding season, the buttocks of females swell and become red.
The tail of baboons looks like an even column, curved and raised at the base, and then hangs freely downwards.
Lifestyle
The life of baboons is full of hardships and dangers: they constantly have to be on guard, periodically starve and experience excruciating thirst. For most of the day, baboons wander on the ground, leaning on all fours and sometimes climbing trees. To survive, primates have to unite into large herds of up to forty relatives. About six males, twice as many females, and their children together can coexist in a group.
With the arrival of twilight, monkeys settle down to sleep, climbing higher - on the same trees or rocks. Females tend to surround their leaders. They go to bed while sitting, which is greatly facilitated by elastic sciatic calluses, which allow them to not notice the inconvenience of the chosen position for a long time. They set off on their journey during the day, in a well-organized community, at the center of which are the alpha male and mothers with cubs. They are accompanied and guarded by younger males, who are the first to take the blow in case of danger and ensure that the females do not break away from the herd.
This is interesting! Growing young animals from time to time try to overthrow the dominant male, running into fights. The struggle for power knows no compromises: the loser obeys the leader and shares with him the most delicious prey.
The battle for leadership is rarely fought alone. To cope with a super-aggressive and strong dominant male, subdominant ones create temporary fighting alliances. This makes sense - males classified as low-ranking get sick more often and die earlier. In general, baboons have a good ability to adapt to the world and remarkable endurance, which allows them to live for quite a long time. In the wild, these monkeys live up to 30 years, in zoos - up to about 45.
Range, habitats
The baboon’s homeland is almost the entire vast African continent, divided into habitats of individual species. The baboon is found in the territory from Angola to South Africa and Kenya, the baboon and anubis live somewhat to the north, inhabiting the equatorial regions of Africa from east to west. A slightly less wide range is occupied by the two remaining species: the Guinea baboon lives in Cameroon, Guinea and Senegal, and the hamadryas inhabits Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and part of the Arabian Peninsula (Aden region).
Baboons are well adapted to life in savannas, semi-deserts and wooded areas, and in recent years they have begun to harass people, settling closer and closer to human habitation. Monkeys become not only annoying, but also arrogant neighbors.
This is interesting! The predatory tendencies of baboons were noted back in the middle of the last century, when they stole food from the inhabitants of the Cape Peninsula (South Africa), ravaged plantations and exterminated livestock.
According to Justin O'Ryan, a worker in the baboon research section, his charges learned to break windows, open doors and even dismantle tile roofs. But contact between monkeys and humans is dangerous for both sides - baboons bite and scratch, and people kill them. To keep the primates in their traditional habitats, rangers control the movements of the herd by marking the animals with paint from paintball rifles.
Baboon diet
Monkeys prefer plant food, but on occasion they will not refuse animal food. In search of suitable provisions, they cover from 20 to 60 km per day, merging (thanks to the color of their coat) with the main background of the area.
The diet of baboons contains:
- fruits, rhizomes and tubers;
- seeds and grass;
- shellfish and fish;
- insects;
- birds;
- hares;
- young antelopes.
But baboons have long been dissatisfied with the gifts of nature - the tailed sneaks have become adept at stealing food from cars, houses and garbage cans. In the southern regions of Africa, these monkeys increasingly hunt livestock (sheep and goats).
This is interesting! The appetite of primates is growing every year: observation of 16 groups of bear baboons showed that only one group is content with pasture, and the rest have long since retrained as raiders.
The merciless African sun, which dries up small rivers, forces us to find alternative sources of water. Monkeys have trained themselves to get moisture by digging up the bottom of dry reservoirs..
Natural enemies
Predators avoid mature baboons, especially those walking in a large herd, but will not miss the chance to attack a female, weakened or young primate.
In the open space above the herd there is a constant threat of attack from such natural enemies as:
- leopard;
- spotted hyena;
- jackal and red wolf;
- hyena dogs;
- Nile crocodile;
- (rarely).
Young males walking along the edges of the herd continuously monitor the area and, seeing the enemy, line up in a crescent to cut him off from their relatives. A signal of danger is an alarming bark, upon hearing which, females with their cubs huddle together, and the males step forward.
They look quite terrifying - their evil grin and raised fur clearly hint at their readiness for a merciless battle. The predator, who did not heed the threat, quickly feels on his own skin how harmoniously the baboon army acts, and usually retreats ingloriously.
Reproduction and offspring
Not every male gets access to a female’s body at the beginning of the mating season: the lower the status and age of the applicant, the lower his chances of reciprocity. Unlimited sexual intercourse can only be had by a dominant male, who has the preferential right to mate with any partner in the herd.
Polygamy
In this regard, the results of observations that were carried out in open-air conditions are very interesting. Biologists found out how the age of a male correlates with polygamy, or more precisely, with the likelihood of acquiring his own harem. It was found that all 4-6 year old baboons who entered childbearing age were still single. Only a single seven-year-old male had a harem consisting of one wife.
This is interesting! Enclosure baboons who reached the age of 9 years received the privilege of polygamy, and over the next 3–4 years the right to an individual harem continued to strengthen.
In the category of 9–11 year old baboons, already half became polygamists, and the heyday of polygamy occurred at the age of 12–14 years. Thus, among 12-year-old monkeys, 80% of individuals used personal harems. And finally, the most extensive harems (compared to younger age categories) were those of baboons who crossed the line of 13 and 14 years. But the harems of 15-year-old males began to gradually crumble.
Birth of offspring
Baboons often fight for females, and in some species they do not leave her even after successful sexual intercourse - they obtain food, deliver births and help care for newborns. Pregnancy lasts from 154 to 183 days and ends with the birth of a single calf weighing approximately 0.4 kg. The baby, with a pink muzzle and black fur, clings to its mother's belly in order to travel with its mother, at the same time feeding on her milk. Having grown stronger, the child moves onto his back, stopping feeding with milk by the age of 6 months.
When a baboon is 4 months old, its face darkens and its fur becomes somewhat lighter, acquiring gray or brown tones. The final species coloration usually appears by the age of one year. Weaned primates form a kin group, reaching fertility no earlier than 3–5 years. Young females always remain with their mother, and males tend to leave the herd without waiting for puberty.
This monkey has a distinctive feature - its face is very similar to a dog's. All representatives of the genus have one habitat - the southern part of Africa, beyond the Sahara Desert.
The hamadryas, which is a type of baboon, is also found in the Arabian Peninsula. It is believed that they were brought there by people in ancient times. According to experts, baboons include two more species of monkeys that live in southern and central Africa. But they have not yet come to a consensus on this issue, since people still know very little about these monkeys, their behavioral, genetic, morphological diversity.
Appearance of a baboon
Baboons have long snouts similar to those of dogs, close-set eyes, strong jaws with pointed fangs. Their body, with the exception of the muzzle, is covered with thick fur.
They have short tails. These monkeys have ischial calluses on their buttocks. In all species, the females are very clearly different from the males. Their faces have different shapes, their fur can be colored in different colors, and they have different body sizes. Males are almost 2 times larger than females. The male has a large white mane on his head. Also, representatives of the stronger sex are endowed with stronger fangs. The tail of baboons is curved, and from the base it is directed upward by about a third, and then downward.
All species of these monkeys differ in size. The following types of baboons are distinguished: Guinea baboon, bear baboon, baboon, anubis and hamadryas. The largest is the bear baboon; their body length can reach 120 cm. These primates weigh about 40 kg. Other types are smaller in size. The smallest is the Guinea baboon, which grows to 50 cm in length and weighs about 14 kg. The color of the coat also depends on the species. Color can range from brown to silver. The muzzle is not covered with hair, there is bare skin that can be either pink or black. There is no hair on the buttocks of these monkeys. When mating season arrives, the buttocks of females turn red and swell.
Listen to the voice of the baboon monkey
Baboon behavior and nutrition
Baboons live both in forested areas and in semi-deserts and savannas, where they can be attacked by predators. To protect themselves, they unite in large groups. Baboons spend almost all their time on the ground, but they are also excellent tree climbers. They move on 4 limbs. They settle down to sleep on rocks or trees. When looking for food, they can walk several tens of kilometers. Typically, a group of baboons consists of approximately 50 individuals.
The task of young representatives of the stronger sex is to protect the flock from attacks by predators. The group is protected by a small group of young males, and such protection gives a strong and good result. These primates are very brave; in case of danger, they attack the enemy. Baboons are omnivores, but their diet mainly consists of plant foods. They eat shellfish, birds, insects, fish, and small antelopes. In search of food, they can sneak into human possessions. In southern Africa, they can steal livestock, namely sheep or goats.
Reproduction and lifespan
During the mating season, the monkey's behavior is dictated by the social structure of the group in which it lives. If the flock is mixed, then the male can mate with any female. The social status of this male is important. Sometimes fights over females may occur. There may be other relationships between the female and the male, and friendship may arise between them. In this case, the male participates in caring for the cubs, delivers birth to the female, and obtains food.
The duration of pregnancy is 6 months. One calf is born, weighing about 400 grams. The female feeds him with milk for 1 year. These primates become sexually mature when they reach the age of 5-7 years. Males leave the pack even before they reach sexual maturity. Females live their entire lives in the pack from which their mother belongs. The lifespan of baboons in the wild is approximately 30 years. In captivity, these monkeys can live 45 years.
It is always interesting to watch monkeys - they are so spontaneous, sweet and smart that they cannot leave anyone indifferent! What a dog-headed monkey is, what are its features and unusual habits - the following material will tell you about this.
General signs and appearance
The generalized name includes several subspecies of monkeys that have a number of similar external and behavioral characteristics. Knowing these characteristics of animals of this genus, it is impossible to confuse them with anyone else.
The dog-headed monkey, or baboon, is a narrow-nosed primate. They are very smart, live in large groups, strictly observing the foundations and traditions of the pack. The baboon is distinguished by the following external characteristics:
- Quite large size - on average 70-100 centimeters in height and 25-45 kg in weight. Males are usually larger than females.
- The head appears large in relation to the body. The muzzle is elongated and narrow, and there are so-called cheek pouches on it. It is to this head structure that baboons owe their second name - dog-headed monkey (photos of the animals are presented in the article).
- Long and thin tail, reaching an average of 50-70 centimeters.
- The coat is thick, not too long. There is much more of it on the head than on the body and limbs.
- Under the tail of baboons there is a “sciatic callus” - two hairless pink hemispheres. In females ready to mate, this part of the body turns bright red.
Baboons move mainly on four limbs, can climb trees very well, run and jump quickly.
Where can you meet a baboon?
There are not many places where the dog-headed monkey lives in the wild. The description of their way of life confirms that these primates need a large area for the entire large flock to live comfortably.
The most comfortable natural environment for baboons is the steppe area and most often, flocks of these animals are found in the southern part of the continent and on the Arabian Peninsula.
Dog-headed monkeys are usually not afraid of people and can settle not far from civilization, engaging in minor sabotage: they can steal food and even small domestic animals.
During tourists’ visits to safari parks, where baboons live in free conditions, the primates do not run away from people, but, on the contrary, expect handouts and goodies from them.
Herbivorous hunter: what do monkeys eat?
The diet of an animal such as the dog-headed monkey is very extensive. These animals can eat both plant foods and animal products.
Most often, the baboons' menu consists of fruits from fruit trees, berries, root vegetables, small beetles and reptiles. But, despite the rich plant diet, the baboon is capable of hunting and not always the smallest prey.
Thanks to its physiological characteristics, the dog-headed monkey is capable of developing serious speed, which allows it to easily catch up with its prey. And thirty-two sharp teeth, from which quite powerful fangs clearly stand out, leave no chance not only for medium-sized animals, like a dog, but also for large African inhabitants. A male baboon is able to catch and tear apart a gazelle, which indicates the exceptional speed and strength of these animals.
Laws of the pack: the social structure of baboons
They live in large flocks, strictly adhering to the intra-generic hierarchy. At the head of the pack is the strongest male. Everyone obeys his “instructions” unquestioningly.
During the daytime, baboons are on the ground, having chosen a vast territory and minding their own business. At the same time, the placement of primates is always the same: strong males are located at the edges, females and cubs are closer to the center. Thanks to this “formation”, the flock will always be able to be protected by its strongest representatives, and it doesn’t matter from which side the enemy crept up.
The dog-headed monkey has extremely sharp eyesight and sees danger from afar. At the same time, the leader emits a characteristic sound signal. This signal can also be used by other animals - this kind of warning is difficult not to hear.
When alarmed, baboons climb trees and wait out danger.
Amorous affairs: love and reproduction of baboons
An adult female baboon is ready to mate every month. The male and female form a pair during the mating season. It is worth noting that at this time the “gentleman” is courting only one “lady”.
Pregnancy in a female dog-headed monkey lasts on average six months and ends with the birth of one baby, in very rare cases - twins.
Monkeys treat newborns very carefully and carefully: at first, the babies are at the mother’s breast, tenaciously grasping her fur; a little later - on her back. Grown-up baboons increasingly leave their mother and play with other cubs, but at the same time parental control does not weaken - dog-headed monkeys do not leave children unattended and do not allow them to play too wildly.
Beware, danger!
Baboons are not afraid of almost any animals. Even if they meet elephants or rhinoceroses on their way, the monkeys are reluctant to give way to them - they sense perfectly well that large animals do not threaten them in any way.
The only exceptions are leopards and lions. Due to their incredible speed and strength, these predators can successfully hunt baboons. But poaching of these rare animals leads to a sharp decline in their population, and the natural regulation of the reproduction of dog-headed monkeys comes to naught. In places where leopards and lions are captured, there has been a significant increase in the number of primates.
African residents have a negative attitude towards these animals. Monkeys are very smart, but also strong and impudent. They calmly approach human settlements in order to profit from food or domestic animals. The presence of a person does not frighten them, with the exception of a strong man with a weapon. Not only will the baboon not be afraid of a woman and child, but it can also attack. Unfortunately, in African villages there are frequent cases of dog-headed monkeys tearing or biting children and women to death.
It is extremely interesting to watch monkeys: their habits combine features of the animal world and human character at the same time. But no matter how cute and smart baboons are, we should not forget that they are, first of all, animals that can show aggression and strength at the most unexpected moment.
Spreading
Baboons are distributed throughout almost all of Africa. They are the only genus of primates (other than humans) that are also found in the northeast of the continent, Egypt and Sudan. They are absent only in northwestern Africa and Madagascar. Hamadryas are also found on the Arabian Peninsula, although it is possible that this population was introduced by humans.
Appearance
Females and males of baboons differ greatly in their size and build. Males are almost twice as large as females and have much larger fangs, as well as a full mane in some species. The tail of baboons is shorter than the body and has a curved shape. The first third is directed upward, and the rest of the tail hangs down. The length of baboons ranges from 40 to 110 cm with a tail length of up to 80 cm. The largest species, the bear baboon, can weigh up to 30 kg.
Both sexes are characterized by a sharp dog-like muzzle, closely spaced eyes, powerful jaws and thick, coarse fur. The color of the coat varies depending on the species from silver to brownish. The muzzle is not covered with hair and is colored black or pink. The backside is also hairless. In females, during the mating season it swells and takes on a bright red color.
Distribution and movement
Baboons are active during the day and are found in semi-deserts, savannas and steppes, as well as in forested areas and even rocky regions. Although they spend most of their time on the ground, they are good climbers. To sleep, they choose elevated places in trees or on rocks. They move on the ground on four legs and a bent tail. In search of food, they cover distances of up to 20 km every day.
Symbolism
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Synonyms:See what "Baboon" is in other dictionaries:
- (German). 1) a breed of short-tailed African monkeys with a dog-like head. 2) guard (for sailors). Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. BABOAN is a short-tailed monkey with a head resembling... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
Chacma, sphinx, hamadryas, drill, mandrill, dog-headed monkey, baboon; ignoramus Dictionary of Russian synonyms. baboon noun, number of synonyms: 12 baboon (3) ... Synonym dictionary
BABOBION, baboon, husband. (Dutch bavian). A monkey from the genus Canidae. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary
BABOBION, ah, husband. A narrow-nosed monkey with an elongated snout and brightly colored calluses. | adj. baboon, ya, ye. Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary
Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language by Max Vasmer
M. A monkey of the ape family with an elongated snout and brightly colored ischial calluses. Ephraim's explanatory dictionary. T. F. Efremova. 2000... Modern explanatory dictionary of the Russian language by Efremova
Baboon, baboons, baboon, baboons, baboon, baboons, baboon, baboons, baboon, baboons, baboons, baboons (
Niramin - Feb 12th, 2016
In the family of monkeys of the order of primates, an absolutely amazing species stands out - the bear baboon (lat. Papio ursinus), or, in other words, chacma. This mammal has gained fame as the most dangerous of the baboons. Its impressive size (height up to 115 centimeters, weight up to 30 kilograms!), strong body covered with thick hair, large fangs, a huge dog-like head with a dog-like elongated muzzle and eyes recessed into the skull frighten even such formidable predators as leopards.
Chacmas are animals that live in large groups. They prefer to stay in wooded areas: natural caution forces baboons to stay away from open areas. Although few predators would dare to attack a group of these omnivores, which usually numbers up to fifty animals. Two or three individuals always act as sentinels: as soon as any danger arises, the watch makes noise, warning their relatives with warning cries about the threat. While defending themselves, a flock of baboons can attack both wild predators and hunting dogs.
To protect themselves as much as possible, bear baboons spend the night on the branches of tall trees or in the depths of rocks. Communication between individuals is a complex system of gestures, sounds, postures, and grimaces.
What do chacmas eat? To briefly describe their diet, they are omnivores. Fruits, greens, and insects coexist in their menu with shellfish, fish, and antelopes. To satisfy their hunger, bear baboons can even raid a flock of sheep to feast on the young meat of newborn lambs.
During the breeding season, chacma males may engage in sparring matches for a mate. The leader always has the advantage in choosing the most attractive female. If attachment arises between individuals, then the matter is not limited to mating: the male takes care of his chosen one before giving birth, and six months later, when the baby is born, he often takes an active part in his upbringing. The mother will breastfeed the baby for almost a year. At the age of about five years, on the eve of puberty, male children leave the pack, while young females, on the contrary, stay close to their mother all their lives, which is about 30 years. There are known cases of longevity of chacmas: in captivity they can live 45 years.
The habitat of bear baboons is very wide: this is the southern part of Africa - from Angola and Mozambique to Zambia and South Africa.
See beautiful photos of bear baboons:
Photo: Chacma with a calf. 
Video: Baboons Fighting. Kruger, South Africa.
Video: Monkey Playing In The Mud
Video: Chacma baboons (Papio ursinus)
Video: Chacma Country Part 1
Video: Chacma Country Part 2
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