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type Status Habitat

MAMMALS

STABLE

NORTH-AFRICA



Hamadryas baboons live near tall, rugged cliffs. Their habitat also includes steppes, plains, and brushland.

Hamadryas baboons eat mostly grass, seeds, leaves, and roots. Sometimes they also eat insects, scorpions, and small lizards and mammals.































Social order

Hamadryas baboons live in groups called one-male units (OMU). An OMU includes a male leader along with several females and their offspring. A male that doesn't lead his own unit might follow an OMU, or he might live alone. Several OMUs make up a band, and several bands make up a troop.

Food storage

Baboons belong to a group of monkeys known as the cheek-pouched monkeys, because of compartments in their cheeks that stretch to store food. It's a great adaptation: a baboon can quickly pop food into its mouth, and later find a safe spot to eat it.

Did You Know?

These big monkeys wake at sunrise and get right to it: chasing, playing, and social grooming. After a few hours of fun, they begin their "daily march." As they travel, they break into groups called bands, and the bands separate into even smaller OMUs to look for food. A band reunites for an afternoon water and rest break. OMUs have time for more foraging before it's time to return to their sleeping cliffs at sunset.