Mandrills are related to the baboon and have a coat that ranges in color from dark brown to olive gray. The adult male has a bright red nose and blue cheeks and a blue rump. The colors on females and juveniles are much duller. Mandrills have cheek pouches that can hold a substantial quantity of food. They can use these to leave their hands free if they have to flee.
Food
Mandrills are omnivorous. They eat small animals, including spiders, snails, worms, ants, and small ground vertebrates. They also eat grasses, herbs, shoots, bark, tubers, roots, and fruit. Males feed on the ground and females and young climb in to trees to eat. Mandrills retire to the trees at night to sleep.
Habitat
Mandrills live in rain forests with little ground cover. They are found in Africa from Camaroon to Guinea.
Predators
The primary predator of the mandrill is the leopard.
Social Structure
Mandrills live in family groups that consist of an adult male, several females, and their young. Occasionally these groups will join with several others.
Birth & Offspring
Female Mandrills give birth to one baby after about 5 to 7 months. Juvenile females will usually stay with the troop they are born into. Juvenile males leave and spend most of the time on their own, though they do forage with the troop.
Lydia King is a huge animal lover and has always been fascinated with learning about the animal kingdom. She enjoys writing about anything animal related from scientific information about rare species to animal references in pop culture.
