Mammals · Primates · Cercopithecidae

Olive Baboon

Papio anubis

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is the most widely distributed baboon, found in 25 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, and is much used in biomedical and behavioural research.

Weight

10 kg – 37 kg

Size

60 cm – 76 cm

Lifespan

30 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

Easy

Fun facts

In Ancient Egypt, baboons were held sacred and linked to the god Thoth.
It feeds mainly on roots, grasses and fruit, supplemented with small invertebrates and vertebrates.
It lives in savannah, grassland, steppe and tropical woodland across sub-Saharan Africa.

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Savannah, grassland, steppe and tropical woodland in 25 sub-Saharan countries; the most widely distributed baboon
Birth weight: Weight at birth not found as a precise figure
Size at birth: Wholly dependent, carried in its mother's arm for the first few days
Sexual maturity: Female: 7-8 years | Male: 8-10 years
Gestation / incubation: ~187 days (6 months)
Litter / clutch size: 1 young (twins rare)