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The 'Olive Baboon' (''Papio anubis''), also called the 'Anubis Baboon', is a member of the family Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys). The species is the most widely spread of all baboons: it is found in 25 countries throughout Africa, extending south from Mali to Ethiopia and to Tanzania. Isolated populations are also in some mountainous regions of the Sahara. It inhabits savannahs, steppes and forest areas.

Contents

Physical characteristics

Range & Habitat

Food habits

Behavior and mating

References

Physical characteristics

The Olive Baboon is named for its coat, which is, at a distance, a shade of green-grey. Primate Factsheets: Olive baboon (''Papio anubis'') Taxonomy, Morphology, & Ecology Cawthon Lang, KA (Its alternate name comes from the Egyptian god Anubis, which was often represented with dog head and resembled the dog-like muzzle of the baboon.) At closer range, its coat is multi-colored, due to rings of yellow-brown and black on the hairs. Papio anubis Shefferly, N. The hair on the baboon's face, however, is finer and ranges from dark grey to black. This coloration is shared by both sexes, although males have a mane of longer hairs that tapers down to ordinary length along the back. Besides the mane, the male Olive Baboon differs from the female in terms of size and weight. Males are, on average, 70 cm tall and weigh 24 kg; females measure 60 cm and 14.7 kg.
Like other baboons, the Olive Baboon, does not have a flat face, but a long, pointed dog-like muzzle. In fact, along with their muzzle, the baboons’ tail (38–58 cm) and four legged gait can make them seem very canine. The tail almost looks as if someone broke it, because the tail is held upright over the rump for the first quarter, after which it drops sharply. The bare patch of a baboon's rump, famously seen in cartoons and movies, is a good deal smaller in the Olive Baboon. The Olive Baboon, like most