Baboons: The Primates with Vibrant Red Bottoms

What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you think of baboons? Admit it—it’s their unmistakable, bright red behinds. Let’s address the elephant in the room: why do baboons have such strikingly red bottoms?

To clarify, only female baboons exhibit this swollen, red rear. It’s a clear indicator of their readiness to mate, making it a reproductive signal. The swelling is no small matter either, with LiveScience noting measurements ranging from 4 to 6.5 inches (10 to 16.5 centimeters).

He Likes Big Red Butts

Interestingly, the exaggerated swelling doesn’t seem to serve a specific function or benefit in baboon reproduction. A 2015 study in the journal Animal Behaviour found that females with the reddest rumps didn’t necessarily attract more mates or engage in more mating. Additionally, those with the most swelling didn’t show higher survival rates for their offspring.

Male baboons appeared more focused on how long it had been since a female last gave birth rather than the redness of her rear. Females with older infants, who were no longer nursing, were more likely to mate, regardless of the degree of swelling.

So, what’s the purpose of the red bottoms? It seems to be tied to ovulation. For 10 to 20 days each month, the hind area swells, peaking during the female’s most fertile period before returning to its normal state.

The swelling is highly visible because both male and female baboons have furless behinds. Over time, they even develop callouses from constant sitting, much like the callouses dogs get on their elbows from lying down.

Now that we’ve addressed the topic of baboon behinds, let’s dive into other fascinating aspects of baboons, as they are intriguing creatures regardless of their distinctive rear ends.

Baboons Are Monkeys

Baboons (Papio) belong to the primate family and are classified among the 23 species of Old World monkeys. Unlike their New World monkey relatives in South America, they lack prehensile tails, meaning they cannot use their tails to grasp or swing from trees.

They hold the title of being the world's largest monkeys. Due to their size and the limited utility of their tails, baboons primarily live on the ground, walking on all fours rather than climbing trees.

Scientists generally recognize five distinct baboon species. However, interbreeding is common, leading to hybrids that complicate precise classification.

The five widely recognized species of baboon include:

Baboons Are at Home in Africa

Baboons are native to sub-Saharan Africa and are widely distributed across the southern part of the continent. The Hamadryas baboons, the northernmost species, inhabit the cliffs along the Red Sea.

In the wild, baboons typically live 20 to 30 years. They usually give birth to a single infant, though twins can occur. Mothers dedicate at least a year to raising their young, referred to as an "infant." (Unfortunately, baby baboons don’t have a more endearing name.) Baboons reach maturity around 6 to 8 years of age.

All baboon species live in large social groups called "troops," which can range from just a few individuals to over 300. Such large groups can cause significant damage to farmers' crops.

Baboons are highly intelligent when it comes to finding food, which can make them a threat. They’ve mastered the art of accessing human food, which is often the most convenient and appealing option.

Baboons have adapted to coexist with humans, often raiding farmers' crops and becoming a nuisance. They’ve even been observed opening car doors and entering homes in search of food, earning them a reputation as the grizzly bears or raccoons of Africa.

As omnivores, baboons consume both plant-based and animal-based foods. Their diet typically consists of fruits, roots, insects, grasses, bark, rodents, and birds. They’re also known to scavenge for human leftovers, including snacks left in cars.

They Have Power in Numbers

Baboons are notably strong, though they don’t display their strength dramatically. Instead, they possess powerful jaws equipped with sharp, intimidating canine teeth. They are fiercely protective of their food and their troop.

Male baboons, in particular, use their physical strength to dominate rivals and secure their leadership or status within the troop. If a human has food they desire or attempts to take their food, they won’t hesitate to use their strength and sharp teeth. (They’ve even been observed attacking leopards that encroach too closely.)

Despite being the largest monkeys, baboons are relatively small compared to humans. They stand about 20 to 34 inches (50 to 86 centimeters) tall, excluding their tails, and weigh between 30 to 85 pounds (13 to 38 kilograms). While they generally prefer to warn humans away, they will charge and bite if provoked, and their powerful teeth can easily break skin and even bones.

There’s positive news regarding baboon populations. Estimating their numbers in the wild is challenging because there are so many of them. Only the Guinea baboon is listed as "near threatened," having lost nearly 25% of its habitat over the past 30 years due to hunting and agriculture. All other baboon species are classified as "least concern," which is a reassuring status for primates.