Baboons are large, terrestrial monkeys of the Old World genus Papio, members of the family Cercopithecidae. The five species are some of the largest non-hominoid members of the primate order; only the gorilla, the chimpanzee and the orangutan are larger.
Baboons have long, dog-like muzzles, heavy, powerful jaws, close-set eyes, thick fur except on their muzzles, buttocks, and palms, and long tails. Their big toes are opposable. Although not as agile as some other monkeys, such as the macaques, baboons are able to climb trees and jump over considerable distances.
Baboons are found in open savannah, woodlands, and rocky hillsides in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Their diets are omnivorous, but mostly herbivorous, yet they eat insects and occasionally small vertebrates. They are foragers and are active at irregular times throughout the day and night. Although they live in very large groups, most of their social interaction is between small, temporary "subgroups."
The baboon is a large, terrestrial monkey that is native to Africa and Arabia. The baboon is an Old World monkey, meaning that it is more closely related to apes and humans than it is to New World monkeys. There are five species of baboon, all of which are members of the genus Papio.
Baboons are large monkeys with dog-like faces and long, canine teeth. They are social animals that live in troops of up to several hundred individuals. Baboons are omnivorous, meaning that they eat both plants and animals.
The baboon has a long history of association with humans. Baboons are featured in ancient Egyptian art and mythology, and they have also been kept as pets by people in Africa and Arabia. In modern times, baboons are sometimes considered to be pests, and they are hunted for their meat and fur.
