Hamadryas Baboon

Papio hamadryas

A baboon of the Horn of Africa whose males have bushy silver manes and lead small family units within big troops.

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About the Hamadryas Baboon

Hamadryas baboons live in Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea, in semi-deserts, steppes, mountain meadows and short-grass savannas, where they need water holes and cliffs for sleeping. Males stand 24 to 30 inches tall and weigh about 50 pounds, with bushy silvery manes; females are about 20 pounds and olive-brown. They eat mostly fruit, plus grasses, insects, seeds and flowers.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Papio hamadryas^[1]
Size: Males 24 to 30 inches tall; females 20 to 25 inches.^[1]
Weight: Males about 50 pounds; females about 20 pounds.^[1]
Lifespan: 30 to 40 years in the wild.^[1]
Diet: Omnivore. Mostly fruit, plus grasses, insects, seeds and flowers.^[1]
Habitat: Semi-deserts, steppes, alpine meadows and short-grass savannas with cliffs and water.^[1]
Where it lives: Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea; also Yemen and Saudi Arabia.^[1]
Group life: One-male units within larger troops. Active during the day.^[1]
Babies: One baby, born with black fur.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016).^[2]

Fun facts

Baby hamadryas baboons are born black and turn olive-brown by six months.^[1]
They sleep on cliffs for safety.^[1]
Hamadryas baboons can survive on low-quality food like grass when they must.^[1]

Vocabulary

troop: A group of monkeys that live together.
mane: Long hair growing on an animal's neck and shoulders.
sexually dimorphic: Having males and females that look different.
steppe: A large, dry, treeless grassland.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Oakland ZooOakland, California · African SavannaSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Oakland Zoo. “Hamadryas Baboon.” https://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/hamadryas-baboon/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Papio hamadryas (Hamadryas Baboon).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16019/17953082 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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