Virtual Non-Human Primate Zoo

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

  Order: Primates

    Suborder: Haplorrhini

      Infraorder: Simiiformes

        Parvorder: Catarrhini

          Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea

            Family: Cercopithecidae

              Subfamily: Cercopithecinae

                Genus: Theropithecus

                  Species: gelada

 

COMMON NAME:  Gelada Baboon

 

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION:  Ethiopia

 

HABITAT:

• grassland

• subtropical/tropical

• high altitude

 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:

• hourglass-shaped patch on their chest

• brown hair mantle

• have short rostrum (snout)

• bilateral symmetry

 

DIET:  Graminivorous (grass eater)/Herbivore

• leaves

• wood

• bark

• seeds

• grains

• nut

• fruit

 

LOCOMOTION TYPE:  Terrestrial Quadrupeds

 

SOCIAL GROUP ORGANIZATION:  Fission-Fusion

One male/multi-female groups which join together to form multi-level societies.

 

PARENTAL CARE:  Mother is primary caregiver

 

COMMUNICATION:

•   Visual:  facial expression and body posture

•   Vocal

•   Tactile Communication

 

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:  

• known as the 'Lion Baboon'

• Theropithecus gelada live well up to 30 years

 

ENDANGERMENT STATUS:  Least Concern

 

To learn more about Theropithecus gelada, visit the following websites:

1. http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/gelada_baboon/taxon

2. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Theropithecus_gelada/

3. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/21744/0

4. http://www.arkive.org/gelada/theropithecus-gelada/image-G20186.html

5. http://www.theprimata.com/theropithecus_gelada.html

 

Information and photographs compiled by A. Ramirez and A. Rodriguez.