Distribution: Ethiopia, Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Yemen
Habitat: Rocky desert
Description: Hamadryas Baboons are grey-brown in colour. Adult males develop a shaggy, silvery-grey shoulder mane. The tail of both sexes is 35–61 cm long. Baboons have a large muzzle, rather like a dog, which houses their large canine teeth.
Diet: Baboons are omnivores and eat grass, roots, tubers, seeds, nuts, fruit, insects and small animals.
In the wild: Hamadryas Baboons have a highly organised, unique and complicated social structure. A male will dominate up to 10 females at a time and form a ‘family’. Several families form a clan; several clans form a band; and several bands form a troop. The dominant male maintains these groups or ‘harems’ by threats and force.
Their natural predators are leopards, lions, hyaenas, pythons and eagles.
At Perth Zoo: The Hamadryas Baboons can be seen in the African Savannah.
Did you know? Unlike other species, male baboons remain with the clan while females leave to join another. The male’s ownership of a ‘family’ is passed down to his male offspring.
A male baboon ‘yawns’ as a threat display to show off its canines which can be up to 4 cm long.
Grooming is very important for maintaining the social bond. Less dominant members do a greater proportion of the grooming.