Anubi baboon
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Anubis baboon ( Papio anubis ) |
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| Papio anubis | ||||||||||||
| ( Lesson , 1827) |
The Baboon or Green baboon ( Papio anubis ) is a primate of the genus baboons in the family of Cercopithecidae (Cercopithecidae). It takes its name from the ancient Egyptian god Anubis , who was often depicted with a dog's head and thus resembled the dog-like snout of these animals.
features
Anubis baboons have a gray-green to olive-green fur, in the males a mane forms on the shoulders and on the front part of the back. The elongated snout is hairless and colored black, the gluteal region is also hairless and dark in color. These animals reach a head body length of 48 to 76 centimeters, the tail is 38 to 58 centimeters long. The first part of the tail stands up, while the rear part is bent down. As with all baboons, there is a clear sexual dimorphism in terms of size. At up to 25 kilograms, males are significantly heavier than females, who only weigh around 15 kilograms. The canines of the males are also significantly larger.
distribution and habitat
Anubis baboons have the largest range of all baboon species, it extends over large parts of central Africa and extends from Mali to Ethiopia and south to Tanzania . Like all baboons, they are primarily savannah residents , but are not fussy about their habitat and are also found in forests and other habitats.
Lifestyle and diet
Anubis baboons, like all old world monkeys, are diurnal and often stay on the ground. They move on all fours and keep their tails bent. When they sleep they often retreat to trees or inaccessible cliffs. They live in groups of 15 to 150 (mostly 40 to 80) animals. The groups are mixed, that is, they include both males and females. Within the groups they establish a distinctive hierarchy with complex social behavior (see group behavior of baboons ).
Anubis baboons are omnivores , but they mainly eat plant material. They eat fruits, grasses, roots, tubers, but also insects, bird eggs and small vertebrates - including small ungulates and primates.
Reproduction
The reproduction can take place all year round, the females show a pronounced normal swelling during the fertile phase . In principle, any male can mate with any female within the mixed groups. This leads to sometimes bitter disputes among the males about the mating privilege. There are also more subtle methods, for example when the males try to win "friendship". To do this, they groom their fur, look after their offspring or provide them with food.
After a gestation period of around 180 days, the female usually gives birth to a single young. This weighs around 1 kilogram at birth and is initially colored black. It is weaned after about a year, and sexual maturity occurs at 5 to 8 years of age. Males have to leave their birth group at this point, while the females often remain in it for life.
In the wild, these animals can live to be 25 to 30 years old.
Anubis baboons and humans
Anubi baboons are widespread and have adapted to humans to some extent. Groups sometimes invade plantations and fields and devastate them, which is why they are persecuted. The destruction of the habitat is also a threat in some places, but overall the species is not endangered according to the IUCN .
literature
- Thomas Geissmann : Comparative Primatology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin et al. 2003, ISBN 3-540-43645-6 .
Web links
- KA Cawthon Lang: Primate Factsheets: Olive baboon ( Papio anubis )
- Information at Animal Diversity Web
- Papio anubis in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2013 Posted by: J. Kingdon and others, 2008. Retrieved on August 27, 2013 ..