Mammals · Primates · Cercopithecidae

Hamadryas Baboon

Papio hamadryas

Least Concern

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

The hamadryas baboon, also known as the sacred baboon or the Egyptian sacred baboon, is a catarrhine primate of the family Cercopithecidae that lives in the semi-deserts, dry savannas and rocky areas of Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. There are also small populations on the Arabian Peninsula, near the shores of the Red Sea, which may be of natural origin or may have been introduced by people.

Weight

10 kg – 30 kg

Size

60 cm – 70 cm

Lifespan

35 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Hierarchical pack

Lives in an organised hierarchical group, typical of cooperative hunters.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

SavannaDesertMountainOmnivore Diurnal In packs Savanna Desert Mountain Mammal

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Fun facts

Its society has four nested levels: the one-male unit with several females, the clan, the band and the troop, which can gather several hundred animals on the same cliff at nightfall.
It was a sacred animal in Ancient Egypt, associated with Thoth, god of writing and knowledge, and tens of thousands of individuals were mummified.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Arid savanna, semi-desert and rocky cliffs of the Horn of Africa and south-western Arabia
Size at birth: Born with its eyes open, clinging to its mother's fur from the first day
Sexual maturity: 4.1 years
Gestation / incubation: 5.6 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papio_hamadryas