1. Class: Mammalia

2. Order: Primata

3. Family: Cercopithecidae

4. Genus Species: Papio hamadryas

5. Size: About 24 - 30 inches in head and body length with a tail of 15 - 24 inches.

6. Weight: 21 - 37 pounds

7. Description: A medium size monkey about 24 and 30 inches in head and body length, with a tail of 15 - 24 inches long. It is generally an ashy gray in colour. The snout is somewhat long and slender. The fur around the sides of the face and down the neck form a wide mane on males that extends beyond the shoulders. The skin of the buttocks and face is a pale shade of red. Females and young baboons are born brown.

8. Life Span: 30 to 40 years.

9. Reproduction: Breeding occurs year-round, but births are more frequent in May, June, November and December. The pregnancy period is around 170 days, and usually one young is born at a time.

10. Gestation: 160 days

11. Habitat: The baboon's natural habitat is up in trees but they climb down to hunt for food. They like open woodlands, savannahs, grassland, and rocky hill country. The Hamadryas baboon lives in Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen. They can be found living from the sea level to 2600 metres.

12. Diet: They are omnivorous, eating a variety of plant matter, often grasses, seeds, root and bulbs but taking meat when easily available. Baboons eat various worms, eggs, insects, reptiles, crabs, mollusks, small mammals, fruits and young shoots. In parts of Arabia, they are becoming increasing dependent on raiding crops and garbage dumps. Usually drink about midday.

13. Predator: Leopards are the main predator of this baboon.

14. Endangered Status: Common within their limited distribution. Arabian populations becoming dependent on humans may be at risk. The Hamadryas has been exterminated in Egypt and reduced in numbers in other areas. Much of its former range has been brought under cultivation, leading to conflicts with people. It is listed as rare by the IUCN.

15. Special features/Specialization: Baboons warn all the other baboons by making a loud grunt. Powerful and aggressive animals about the size fo a large dog, baboons can distinguish colours and have a keen sense of smell.

16. Social Organization: Baboons live in a herd because they are safer that way. The Hamadryas baboon has a complex social structure. A male will dominate up to 10 females at a time. This family is a close-knit group, interacting with each other more frequently than with baboons from other families. Several families form a clan; several clans form a band; several bands form a troop. Their troops are often composed of 30 to more than 100 members. Males will forcefully steal females from other bands, but will not steal from their own family. Instead they very gradually win over a juvenile female without confrontation. Young males inherit females from their father. Thus the father's social status is passed on to his sons.

17. Conservation Status: It is listed as rare by the IUCN.

18. Behaviors: Baboons are very social and are stressed by isolation. A direct stare is a threat. To threaten in return, they will raise their eyebrows, showing their white eyelids and partially open their mouth, displaying formidable canines. Intensifying their threat, they may yawn, raise their hair, slap their hands and feet on the ground, grind their teeth and scream. Fear is shown by a 'grin' with no eyelid threats. They have a number of calls; alarm is given by a dog-like bark. Grooming is an intimate way for baboons to express their acceptance by others.
Population Areas: Baboons are found in Upper Egypt, northeastern Sudan, eastern Ethiopia, northern Somalia and the southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsular and also in Africa.