Mandrills are captivating primates that instantly draw attention with their striking appearance. Their vivid coloration and robust build often lead to questions about their classification, particularly whether they are monkeys or another type of primate. These animals are recognized for their unique visual characteristics and complex social lives. Understanding mandrills requires exploring their biological categorization and distinctive features.
Mandrills in the Primate Family Tree
Mandrills are indeed monkeys, specifically classified as Old World monkeys within the family Cercopithecidae. This family includes a wide array of primates primarily found in Africa and Asia. Their scientific classification places them in the order Primates, family Cercopithecidae, genus Mandrillus, and species Mandrillus sphinx. While they were once thought to be closely related to baboons, recent genetic studies indicate a closer relationship to white-eyelid mangabeys, although they retain their own distinct genus.
Old World monkeys possess several defining characteristics that distinguish them from New World monkeys and apes. They have nostrils that point downward and are set close together. Unlike New World monkeys, their tails are not prehensile, meaning they cannot use them to grasp objects. Most Old World monkeys, including mandrills, are omnivorous and typically have cheek pouches for temporarily storing food.
Unmistakable Physical Characteristics
Mandrills are among the most colorful mammals. Adult males exhibit vibrant facial coloration, including bright blue ridges along the nose, a red stripe, and red lips. They also feature a yellowish beard and olive-green fur on their bodies. The skin on their rumps and around their genitals displays hues of red, pink, blue, and purple, which become more vivid with dominance and testosterone levels.
Mandrills are the largest monkey species, with significant size differences between sexes. Males typically weigh between 32 and 54 kilograms (70 to 119 pounds) and can measure up to 81 centimeters (32 inches) in head-body length. Females are considerably smaller, averaging about 12 kilograms (27 pounds) and 56 to 70 centimeters (22 to 28 inches) in length. This pronounced sexual dimorphism also extends to their canine teeth, which are much longer in males, reaching up to 6.5 centimeters.
Life in the Wild: Behavior and Habitat
Mandrills inhabit the dense rainforests of Central Africa, with significant populations in Gabon, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and the Republic of the Congo. They prefer primary forests but can also be found in gallery forests surrounded by savanna. Mandrills are primarily terrestrial, foraging on the forest floor, though they climb trees to sleep and find food. They use their strong limbs to move quadrupedally across the ground and have opposable thumbs and big toes for climbing.
Mandrills live in large, complex social structures known as “hordes” or “supergroups,” which can number in the hundreds of individuals. Some documented groups have been as large as 845 or even over 1,200 individuals. Females form the stable core of these groups, while adult males are often more solitary outside of the breeding season, joining the larger group when females are receptive. Their diet is omnivorous, consisting of fruits, seeds, leaves, fungi, insects, and small vertebrates like frogs or lizards.