The ancient Egyptians considered hamadryas baboons to be the sacred attendants of Thoth, the scribe to the gods.

Subspecies
None.

Life span
Hamadryas baboons can live for over 35 years.

Statistics
Body length: 75cm, Tail length: 55cm, Weight: 12-21kg.

Physical description
Male hamadryas baboons are grey with a long shoulder cape, and the females are olive brown without a cape. The skin on the face and rump is pink. Infants are born black.

Distribution
Hamadryas baboons occupy Somalia, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Habitat
Hamadryas baboons inhabit arid sub desert and savannah woodland up to 2600m.

Diet
This species feeds on grass, roots, tubers, fruits, nuts, invertebrates and small birds and mammals.

Behaviour
Hamadryas baboons have an unusual social structure. Each band is composed of clans. Unlike other baboons, males remain in the same clan for life. Males have a harem of females, which they defend from other males. The females are ruled by aggression and remain by the male's side at all times. Young males acquire harems by befriending sexually immature females, who the other males are not yet interested in, and so are met with little resistance. Hamadryas baboons are diurnal and spend most of their time on the ground.

Reproduction
After a gestation period of 165-174 days, females give birth to one infant.

Conservation status
Hamadryas baboons are in the Lower Risk category of the 2000 IUCN Red List.