Mammals · Primates · Cercopithecidae
Drill
Mandrillus leucophaeus
It faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. See full glossary
The drill is a stocky primate related to the mandrill, with a glossy black face framed by a white crest and brightly coloured hindquarters. It is one of the most threatened primates in Africa and occupies a tiny range: south-west Cameroon, south-east Nigeria and the island of Bioko, in Equatorial Guinea. It lives in groups that work the forest floor looking for fruit, seeds, invertebrates and small vertebrates. Hunting for bushmeat and logging are its great threats.
Weight
12 kg – 36 kg
Size
60 cm – 90 cm
Lifespan
28 years
Diet
Omnivore
Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
Herd
Lives in large groups as a strategy against predators.
Sighting difficulty
Hard
Fun facts
- GeneralA close relative of the mandrill but without the coloured face; hunting has left it endangered.
- Its range is one of the smallest of any mainland African primate: it fits between two rivers, the Cross and the Sanaga, plus the island of Bioko.
- Unlike the mandrill, whose face is blue and red, the drill's is entirely black and it concentrates the colour at the rear, with mauve and pink tones that grow stronger in dominant males.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
- Habitat & environment
- Lowland rainforest and coastal forest of south-western Cameroon, Nigeria and Bioko
- Size at birth
- Born with its eyes open, clinging to its mother's fur from the first day
- Sexual maturity
- 3.5 years
- Gestation / incubation
- 5.9 months
- Litter / clutch size
- 1
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandrillus_leucophaeus
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapBest time: All year round in the forests of Cameroon, Nigeria and the island of Bioko, by day; it is very wary and easier to detect by ear than by sight.
Where to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Drill — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Preuss’s Monkey
Allochrocebus preussi
Red-capped Mangabey
Cercocebus torquatus
Black Colobus
Colobus satanas
Mona Monkey
Cercopithecus mona
VulnerableMandrill
Mandrillus sphinx
Putty-nosed Monkey
Cercopithecus nictitans
How to help
The drill is classified as endangered. Organizations such as UICN, WWF y Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programs is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 1 real protected area — part of why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about drill.
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