Mandrill

Mandrill Introduction

A monkey with a strikingly colourful face, the mandrill is one of Africa’s most interesting mammals. They thrive in the jungle environments of central Africa, and mandrill populations range from Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While they are similar in some ways to baboons and were even classified as baboons until relatively recently, mandrills belong to their own genus—making them unique among the primate world. Their fur coloration ranges from an olive green to a silvery brown, and the face of a male mandrill has a large, elongated snout with a vibrant red stripe down the middle and blue ridges on either side, completed by a yellow beard at the chin. Female mandrills have similar coloration but in much less saturated hues. Unlike their baboon counterparts, mandrills have almost no tail at all, and they are in general quite ape-like—with a stocky frame and muscular limbs. Mandrills are omnivores, and they have a very diverse diet. Fruits, leaves, stems, bark, fibers, mushrooms, insects, snails, eggs, frogs, shrews, small antelope and even scorpions are just some of the foods on the mandrill menu. But mandrills are not at the top of the food chain, and they must be wary of leopards and rock pythons. Like many primates, female mandrills and their young live in large social groups for security and dependability. These groups are called hordes, and they can be made up of hundreds of individual mandrills. Adult male mandrills, however, live solitary lifestyles. They only join the horde during mating season. Fights and displays of aggression between males are common, and only the dominant and brightly-coloured alpha males are able to sire offspring. Females are left to care for the young on their own, and alloparenting has been observed among mandrills—meaning that female relatives will raise a baby whether or not they are the mother. Mandrills have been observed using tools, and they are highly intelligent monkeys. Their population numbers are threatened by shrinking ecosystems and harmful hunting practices.  

Keywords to learn

Coloration: an animal’s appearance in regards to colour

Alloparenting: the act caring for young that are not the offspring of the carer


About Me

Hey Kids, my name is Morgan the Mandrill and I am very happy to meet you. Learn more about me and my species @ 

www.kids.nationalgeographic.com

 

Key Data

  • Order:
    Primates.
  • Lifespan:
    18 to 22 years.
  • Class:
    Mammalia.
  • Scientific Name:
    Mandrillus sphinx.
  • Mass:
    11kg – 25kg (24lb – 55lb).
  • Length:
    55cm – 95cm (22in – 37in).
  • Region found:
    Central Africa.
  • Population Status:
    Vulnerable.
  • Current population trend:
    Decreasing.
  • Diet:
    Omnivorous.
  • Sexual maturity:

    4 – 8 years.

 

The mandrill is an incredible and intimidating monkey with many wonderful characteristics and an unforgettable face. Its bright colours make it unique among all other mammals. Mandrills are currently threatened by hunting and deforestation.

 

Now that you know more about the mandrill by learning the key data above, be sure also to check out the fun facts. When you are finished learning the facts, try answering the questions in the Q&A corner on the bottom right side of the page.

 

Download questions about the mandrill here: Mandrill (answers are on this page)

 

Teachers. For more in-depth worksheets about the monkey . Click on Kidskonnect Worksheets

 

Check out our NEW TWITTER ACCOUNT, where you can check out some more cool animal facts: @ animalsatoz

 

 

 

 

 

Axolotl Fun Facts for Kids

  • # 1. The mandrill is the largest living monkey in the world.
  • # 2. Mandrills have large cheek pouches that they use to store food for later consumption.
  • # 3. Mandrills will forage in trees, but they spend most of their time on the ground.
  • # 4. The largest mandrill horde ever documented numbered well over 1,200 individuals.
  • # 5. Mandrills have very long canine teeth that they use for self defence. 

Q&A Corner

# 1. Name five foods that mandrills eat?

 

# 2. What is the average lifespan of a mandrill?

 

# 3. Who takes care of the young in a mandrill horde?

 

# 4. What is one natural predator of the mandrill?

 

# 5. What colours can be found on the face of a mandrill? 

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