Baboon flock tree. Bear baboon: description of the animal’s life with photos and videos

The baboon belongs to the order of primates and forms a genus in which there are 5 species. This monkey is notable for having a dog-like face. All species live in sub-Saharan Africa. One species, namely the hamadryas, also lives on Arabian Peninsula. There is a version that this population was brought to Arabia by people in ancient times. Some experts believe that 2 more species of monkeys living in Central and South Africa, can be attributed to the genus of baboons. However, people still have too little knowledge about the morphological, genetic and behavioral diversity of these animals. So it's very difficult to accept final decision on this issue.

All representatives of the genus have long canine muzzles, powerful jaws with sharp fangs, closely spaced eyes, thick fur except the muzzle, short tails and ischial calluses on the buttocks. All species have well-expressed sexual dimorphism. Females differ from males in the shape of their muzzles, sizes, and sometimes the color of their skin. Male hamadryas have large white manes. Males are almost 2 times larger than the weaker sex. They also have more powerful fangs. The tail of animals is curved. One third of the base points upward, and the rest hangs down.

Dimensions depend on the type. These monkeys are divided into bear baboon, guinea baboon, anubis, hamadryas and baboon. The first type is considered the largest. The body length of these animals can reach 120 cm and weigh 40 kg. Other types are smaller. The smallest species is considered to be the Guinean species with a body length of 50 cm and a weight of 14 kg. The color of the coat depends entirely on the species and varies from brown to silver. No hair grows on the face. It can be pink or black. There is also no hair on the back of the body. During the mating season, the buttocks of females swell and become red.

Reproduction and lifespan

Behavior of monkeys during mating season largely depends on social structure. In mixed groups, males can mate with any females, and a major role is played by social status male, which sometimes provokes fights between rivals. However, there are also more subtle relationships between the sexes. Friendship arises between a male and a female. At the same time, a representative of the stronger sex helps the lady care for the offspring, brings food and receives the baby during childbirth.

Pregnancy lasts 6 months. 1 cub is born. It weighs approximately 400 g. Milk feeding lasts 1 year. Puberty occurs at the age of 5-7 years. Young males leave the group even before puberty, and females remain for life in the pack in which they were born. IN wildlife The baboon lives about 30 years. Life expectancy in captivity is 45 years.

Behavior and nutrition

These animals live not only in wooded areas, but also in open savannah and semi-desert, therefore they unite in large groups to protect themselves from predators. They spend most of their time on the ground, but they can climb trees very well. They move on 4 legs, sleep in trees or climb rocks. In search of food they can travel tens of kilometers a day. A herd usually has an average of 50 animals.

The job of young males is to protect other monkeys from predators. Collective defense always gives a very good effect. In addition, baboons are distinguished by their courage and rush at the enemy without fear. These animals are omnivores, but mostly herbivores. They feed on insects, mollusks, and hunt fish, birds, hares, and small antelopes. They can raid human possessions. In South Africa, these primates steal goats and sheep.

The hamadryas baboon, or frilled baboon (lat. Papio hamadryas) is a large narrow-nosed monkey from the monkey family (Cercopithecidae). This primate is distinguished by its innate intelligence and relatively complex social relationships within the herd. Its lifestyle is in many ways similar to that of its relatives (Theropithecus gelada), (Papio ursinus) and (Papio cynocephalus).

IN Ancient Egypt The hamadryas was considered the sacred animal of Thoth, the god of wisdom and the Moon, the patron saint of officials and scribes. In the ancient Egyptian collection of religious texts, “The Book of the Dead,” he is assigned the role of carrier of the deceased to the other world, where he asked higher powers about a fair trial for them.

The Egyptians aroused such respect for the luxurious mane that males had, reminiscent of a cloak or mantle.

It becomes especially majestic and silvery among the leaders. When they lose power, the hair in the mane eventually falls out. Primates experience the loss of their status very painfully, fall into deep depression and sometimes even die from the failure that befell them.

Spreading

Its habitat is located on the African continent and extends from the western shore of the Red Sea through Sudan and Eritrea to Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. Today the species is considered extinct in Egypt.

A large population lives in Yemen and Saudi Arabia on the Arabian Peninsula. Frilled baboons are believed to have been brought there by humans.

Primates inhabit semi-deserts, savannas and mountainous areas with steep slopes and rocky outcrops. A prerequisite for their settlement is the presence of nearby sources of drinking water.

Behavior

Hamadryas baboons live in herds, the number of which can sometimes reach up to 2000 individuals. Males form harems in which they have full power over 7-15 females and their offspring. Harems, headed by close relatives, often unite into clans for communal feeding. Clans, in turn, create real communities that can transform into numerous herds.

Young males gather in bachelor groups or occupy places at the very bottom of the harem hierarchy and patiently wait in the wings, when they can displace their superior comrades or dull their attention with their complaisance and use the right moment to rapidly fertilize females. Young female representatives, as a rule, leave their native communities and join foreign groups.

Particularly eager males raid small flocks of Anubis baboons (Papio anubis) and mate with their females. As a result of such forays, fertile offspring are born.

The animals are omnivores and are well adapted to living in a relatively dry climate. During the wet season, they actively eat fruits, flowers, roots, seeds and leaves. various plants. During drought, they are content with the delicate foliage of evergreen trees and shrubs, especially the species Dobera glabra from the Salvadoraceae family. In their absence, monkeys switch to the fibrous and low-nutrient stems of the sisal agave (Agave sisalana).

Besides food plant origin primates eat insects, their larvae, snails, bird eggs and small vertebrates, mainly lizards.

Hamadryas spend a lot of time searching for food together and combing each other's fur. Mutual grooming helps relieve social tension and strengthen family ties. Conflicts that arise between different groups over the division of food, places for watering and sleeping are resolved by fierce fights between the males leading them.

Monkeys communicate with each other using a rich set of sounds, facial expressions, postures and bodily contacts.

Reproduction

Puberty occurs at the age of 5-7 years. frilled baboons capable of reproducing all year round. The female cycle is approximately 4 weeks.

Harem owners are very jealous and attack not only other males, but also bite and beat their spouses when they are looking for love on the side.

Pregnancy lasts about 170 days. The female usually brings only one cub every two years. The baby weighs 600-900 g and is painted black. His mother is involved in his upbringing; her friends, as a rule, do not provide her with any help. Milk feeding lasts 5-6 months.

The leader is tolerant of his offspring, periodically plays with them and protects them from predators and strangers.

Sexually mature young male hamadryas show a special unhealthy interest in babies. They steal them from their mothers, put them on their backs and happily gallop around the neighborhood. Such fun often ends in the death of the cub from hunger and dehydration, so the owner of the harem severely punishes the captured merry fellow.

Description

The body length of males reaches 80-90 cm, and females 40-45 cm. Weight is 20-30 kg and 10-15 kg, respectively. The length of the tail is 45-60 cm. It ends with a small tassel.

The fur of males is silvery-white. They have a mane and mantle that grows in around 10 years of age. Females do not have them, and their coat color takes on various shades of light brown.

The muzzle is strongly elongated and devoid of hair. In males it is bright pink, while in females it is brownish and dull. The bare ischial calluses are pink in both sexes. The darkish fur of babies lightens as they grow older.

The lifespan of hamadryas baboons in the wild rarely exceeds 15-20 years. In captivity they live up to 37 years.

Spreading

Baboons are distributed throughout almost all of Africa. They are unique gender primates (except humans), which are also found in the northeast of the continent, in 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. For sleep they choose high places on trees or 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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See what "Baboon" is in other dictionaries:

- (German). 1) short-tailed breed African monkeys with a head like a dog. 2) guard (for sailors). Dictionary 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) ... Dictionary of synonyms

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. Narrow-nosed monkey with an elongated muzzle and brightly colored ischial 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 Russian language Efremova

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