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Baboon

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	Topics Baboon Topic Home The five baboon species are some of the largest non-hominidHominid A hominid is any member of the biological family Hominidae, including the extinct and extant humans, chimpanzees, gori... members of the primatePrimate A primate is any member of the biological order Primates, the group that contains all the species commonly related to... order; only the MandrillMandrill The Mandrill is a primate of the Cercopithecidae family, closely related to the baboons and even more closely to the Drill.... and the DrillDrill (mammal) The Drill is a primate of the Cercopithecidae family, closely related to the baboons and even more closely to the Mandrill.... are larger. In modern scientific use, only members of the genus *Papio* are called baboons, but previously the closely related GeladaGelada The Gelada is a species of Old World monkey, found only in the highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea.... (genus Theropithecus) and two species of Mandrill and Drill (genus MandrillusMandrillus *Mandrillus* is the genus of the Mandrill and its close relative the Drill.... ) were grouped in the same genus, and these Old World monkeyOld World monkey The Old World monkeys or Cercopithecidae are a group of primates, falling in the superfamily Cercopithecoidea in... s are still often referred to as baboons in everyday speech. The word "baboon" comes from "babouin", the name given to them by the French naturalist BuffonGeorges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon Summary Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon was a French naturalist, mathematician, biologist, cosmologist and author.... . The baboon held several positions in Egyptian mythology. The baboon god Baba, was worshipped in Pre-Dynastic times; alternatively, this may be the origin of the animal's name. Papio belongs to family Cercopithecidae, in subfamily CercopithecinaeCercopithecinae The Cercopithecinae are a subfamily of the Old World monkeys, that includes in its roughly 71 species the baboons, the macaq... . Physiology All baboons have long dog-like muzzles (cynocephalus, "dog-head"), close-set eyes, heavy powerful jaws, thick fur except on their muzzle, a short tail and rough spots on their protruding hindquarters, called ischial callosities. These callouses are nerveless, hairless pads of skin which are present to provide for the sitting comfort of the baboon (and other Old World monkeys). Males of the Hamadryas BaboonHamadryas Baboon The Hamadryas Baboon is a baboon from the Old World monkey family.... species also have a large white mane. There is considerable variation in size and weight depending on species, the Guinea BaboonGuinea Baboon The Guinea Baboon is a baboon from the Old World monkey family.... is 50 cm (20 inches) and weighs only 14 kg (30 lb) while the biggest Chacma BaboonChacma Baboon The Chacma Baboon is, like all other baboons, from the Old World monkey family.... can be 120 cm (47 inches) and weigh 40 kg (90 lb). In all baboon species there is pronounced sexual dimorphismSexual dimorphism Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different sex in the same species.... , usually in size but also sometimes in colour or canine development. Baboons are terrestrial (ground dwelling) and are found in open savannah, open woodland and hills across AfricaAfrica Africa is one of the greatest sized continents of the Earth.... . Their diet is omnivorousOmnivore An omnivore is a species of animal who are "...... , but is usually vegetarianHerbivore Overview Herbivore is often defined as any organism that eats only plants.... . They are foragers and are active at irregular times throughout the day and night. They can raid human dwellings and in South Africa they have been known to prey on sheep and goats. Their principal predators are manHuman Humans, or human beings, are bipedal primates belonging to the mammalian species *Homo sapiens* under the fami... and the leopardLeopard Overview The leopard is one of the four 'big cats' of the genus Panthera.... , although they are tough prey for a leopard and large males will often confront them by flashing their eyelids, showing their teeth by yawning, making gestures, and chasing after the intruder/predator. Baboons in captivity have been known to live up to 45 years, while in the wild their life expectancy is about 30 years. Society Most baboons live in hierarchical troops. Group sizesGroup size measures Many animals, including humans, tend to live in groups, herds, flocks, bands, packs, parties, or colonies of conspecific individu... vary between 5 to 250 animals (often about 50 or so), depending on specific circumstances, especially species and time of year. The structure within the troop varies considerably between Hamadryas BaboonHamadryas Baboon The Hamadryas Baboon is a baboon from the Old World monkey family.... s and the remaining species, sometimes collectively referred to as savanna baboons. The Hamadryas Baboon has very large groups comprised of many smaller harems (one male with four or so females), to which females from elsewhere in the troop are recruited while still too young to breed. The other baboon species have a more promiscuous structure with a strict dominance hierarchy based on the female matriline. The Hamadryas Baboon group will typically include a younger male, but he will not attempt to mate with the females unless the older male is removed. Another baboon society in Africa interacts with the Masai by stealing their goats for meat and waiting for Masai to dig in the dry river beds for water. After the Masai leave the water hole, the baboons sneak in to drink whatever water is left. Baboons can determine from vocal exchanges what the dominanceDominance (biology) Dominance in the context of biology and anthropology is the state of having high social status relative to other individuals... relations are between individuals. When a confrontation occurs between different families or where a lower-ranking baboon takes the offensive, baboons show more interest in the exchange than exchanges between members of the same family or when a higher-ranking baboon takes the offensive. This is because confrontations between different families or rank challenges can have a wider impact on the whole troop than an internal conflict in a family or a baboon reinforcing its dominance. The collective noun for baboons is commonly troop or congress, although flange is also becoming common. This unusual term originates from a Not the Nine O'Clock NewsNot the Nine O'Clock News *Not the Nine O'Clock News* was a comedy television programme shown on the BBC, broadcast from 1979 to 1982.... comedy sketch entitled "Gerald The Intelligent Gorilla" where it was used for comic effect. Mating and birth Baboon mating behavior varies greatly depending on the social structure of the troop. In the mixed groups of savanna baboons, each male can mate with any female. The mating order among the males depends partially on their social ranking, and fights between males are not unusual. There are however more subtle possibilities; males sometimes try to win the friendship of females. To garner this friendship, they may help groom the female, help care for her young, or supply them with food. Some females clearly prefer such friendly males as mates. However, males will also take infants during fights in order to protect themselves from harm. A female initiates mating by presenting her swollen rump to the male. But 'presenting' can also be used as a submissive gesture and is observed in males as well. In the harems of the Hamadryas Baboon, the males jealously guard their females, to the point of grabbing and biting the females when they wander too far away. Despite this, some males will raid harems for females. In such situations it often comes to aggressive fights by the males. Visual threats are usually accompanied by these aggressive fights. This would include a quick flashing of the eyelids accompanied by a yawn to show off the teeth. Some males succeed in taking a female from another's harem. This is called a 'takeover'. In many species, infant baboons are taken by the males as hostages during fights. Females typically give birth every other year, usually to a single infant, after a six month gestation. The young baboon weighs approximately one kilogram and is colored black when they are born. The females tend to be the primary caretaker of the young, although several females will share the duties for all of their offspring. In mixed groups males sometimes help in caring for the young of the females they are friendly with, for instance they gather food for them and play with them. The probability is high that those young are their offspring. After about one year, the young animals are weaned. They reach sexual maturity in five to eight years. Baboon males leave their birth group, usually before they reach sexual maturity, whereas females are 'philopatric' and stay in the same group their whole life. Cultural importance The Hamadryas Baboon was a sacred animal to the ancient Egyptians as the attendant of ThothThoth Thoth, a Greek name derived from the Egyptian * was considered one of the more important gods of the Egyptian pantheon... , and so, is also called the Sacred Baboon. The English word Baboon is thought to derive from the name of the Egyptian baboon-god HapiHapi Summary Hapi was one of the Four sons of Horus depicted in funerary literature as protecting the throne of Ausare in the Underworld... . Classification and taxonomy Five species of Papio are commonly recognized, although there is some disagreement about whether they are really full species or subspecies. They are P. ursinus, P. papio (Western, Red, or Guinea BaboonGuinea Baboon The Guinea Baboon is a baboon from the Old World monkey family.... , found in the far west of Africa), P. hamadryas, P. anubis and P. cynocephalus. Many authors distinguish P. hamadryas as a full species, but regard all the others as subspecies of P. cynocephalus and refer to them collectively as "savanna baboons". This may not be helpful: it is based on the argument that the Hamadryas Baboon is behaviorally and physically distinct from other baboon species, and that this reflects a separate evolutionary history. However, recent morphological and genetic studies of Papio show the Hamadryas Baboon to be more closely related to the northern baboon species (the Guinea and Olive Baboons) than to the southern species (the Yellow and Chacma Baboons). The traditional 5-form classification probably under-represents the variation within Papio. Some commentators would argue that at least two more forms should be recognized, including the very tiny Kinda BaboonKinda Baboon The Kinda Baboon is a semi-terrestrial subspecies of baboon present in the Miombo woodlands of Angola, the Democratic Repub... (P. cynocephalus kindae) from Zambia, the DRC, and Angola, and the Gray-footed Baboon (P. ursinus griseipes) found in Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and northern South Africa. However, current knowledge of the morphological, genetic, and behavioral diversity within Papio is too poor to make any final, comprehensive judgments on baboon taxonomy. Species list There are 6 different species of baboons: Genus Papio Hamadryas BaboonHamadryas Baboon The Hamadryas Baboon is a baboon from the Old World monkey family.... , Papio hamadryas Guinea BaboonFacts About Guinea Baboon The Guinea Baboon is a baboon from the Old World monkey family.... , Papio papio Olive BaboonOlive Baboon The Olive Baboon, also called the Anubis Baboon, is a baboon from the Old World monkey family.... , Papio anubis Yellow BaboonYellow Baboon The Yellow Baboon is a baboon from the Old World monkey family.... , Papio cynocephalus Chacma BaboonChacma Baboon The Chacma Baboon is, like all other baboons, from the Old World monkey family.... , Papio ursinus *Theropithecus* Gelada Baboon. Theropithecus gelada Further reading Cheney, Dorothy L. / Seyfarth, Robert M. (2007): Baboon Metaphysics: The Evolution of a Social Mind. Chicago. See also List of historical monkeys ParapapioParapapio *Parapapio* is a genus of prehistoric baboons closely resembling the forest dwelling mangabeys.... External links [https://deimos.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/itunes.stanford.edu.1770152.01770196.4620459?i=1248556625 Stress and Coping What baboons can teach us] Lecture by Robert SapolskyRobert Sapolsky Robert M. Sapolsky is John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor of Biological Sciences and Professor of Neurology and Neurologi... at Stanford UniversityStanford University Summary The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University , is a private university located approxi... (via iTunes)