CLASSMammals | FAMILYCercopithecidae |
SCIENTIFIC NAMEPapio hamadryas | WHERE IS IN THE PARKSafari |
The hamadryas baboon is a species of baboon, a primate from the Cercopithecidae family. It is widespread in the north-east of Africa, with a greater presence in Ethiopia. The hamadryas baboon inhabits the arid steppes, semi-desert areas, escarpments and mountains, at altitudes generally higher than 1,500 m. This primate is omnivorous and feeds on grasses, invertebrates and cactuses. It is a social animal, that forms small groups, or harem, composed by one male and more females, among which one is dominant. Related harems aggregate to form clans, groups of a few hundreds of individuals. A bad climber, the hamadryas baboon spends most of the day on the ground or on the rocks, in search for food or engaged in social activities such as the mutual grooming (behaviour for which an animal cleans another of parasites).