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Animals

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A-Z

Baboon

Papio anubis

Olive baboons, like this mother and baby,
are one of five baboon species. All live in Africa or
Arabia.

Photograph by Michael
Nichols

Baboon Profile

There are five different species of baboons. All of
them live in Africa or Arabia. Baboons are some of the
world's largest monkeys, and males of different species
average from 33 to 82 pounds (15 to 37 kilograms).
Baboon bodies are 20 to 40 inches (60 to 102
centimeters) long, not including substantial tails of
varying lengths.

Baboons generally prefer savanna
and other semi-arid habitats, though a few live in
tropical forests.

Like other Old World monkeys,
baboons do not have prehensile (gripping) tails. But
they can and do climb trees to sleep, eat, or look out
for trouble. They spend much of their time on the
ground.

Baboons are opportunistic eaters and,
fond of crops, become destructive pests to many African
farmers. They eat fruits, grasses, seeds, bark, and
roots, but also have a taste for meat. They eat birds,
rodents, and even the young of larger mammals, such as
antelopes and sheep.

Four baboon species (i.e.,
chacma, olive, yellow, and Guinea) are known as the
savanna baboons. These animals form large troops,
composed of dozens or even hundreds of baboons, governed
by a complex hierarchy that fascinates scientists. Males
use shows of physical power to dominate rivals, and
troop members spend endless hours carefully grooming one
another to remove insects and dead skin.

A fifth
species, the hamadryas baboon, lives in the hills along
the Red Sea coasts of Africa and Arabia. These
cliff-dwelling baboons disperse to forage during the day
and reconvene in much smaller groups at
night.

Fast Facts

Type: Mammal

Diet: Omnivore

Average lifespan in the wild: 30
years

Size: Head and body, 20 to 34 in
(60 to 86 cm); Tail, 16 to 23 in (41 to 58 cm)

Weight: 33 to 82 lbs (22 to 37
kg)

Group name: Troop

Did you know? Baboons use at least
ten different and unique vocalizations to communicate
with other members of the troop.

Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m)
man:

Multimedia

Photo
Gallery: Monkeys

Baboon Printable Factsheet

Video:
Baboons vs. Flamingos

Monkey Features

Photo
of the Day: High in the Saddle

Travel to the Zambezi River, where a young baboon
gets a lift from its mother to a nearby watering
hole.

View
Photos

Photo
of the Day: Along for the Ride

See a photo of a baby baboon clinging to its mother
in the mountains of Ethiopia.

View
Photo

Kings
of the Hill?

Find out why girls rule in the world of gelada
monkeys in this multimedia feature.

Learn
More

The
Smell of Trouble

Learn about the long odds of survival faced by
Borneo's long-nosed proboscis monkeys in this
feature.

Learn
More

Other Primates

Orangutan

Chimpanzee

Mountain
Gorilla

Gelada

Howler
Monkey

Spider
Monkey

Baboon range

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