Guinea Baboon - Definition

The Guinea Baboon (Papio papio) is a baboon from the Old World monkey family. It is the poorest known baboon species.

Guinea Baboon inhabit a small area in western Africa. Their range is from Guinea, Senegal, Gambia, southern Mauritania and western Mali. They have a reddish brown skin and a hairless, dark-violet or black face with the typical dog-like face, which is surrounded by a small mane. Guinea Baboons are the smallest baboons.

They are diurnal and terrestral, but sleep in trees. The number of suitable sleeping trees limits the group size and the range. Although little is known about their social behavior, they are likely to live in harems. Like all baboons they are omnivorous, eating fruits, buds, roots, insects and small mammals.

Due to their small range and the loss of their habitat Guinea Baboons are classified as "near threatened" by the IUCN.