The mandrill (or Mandrillus sphinx) is a species of large monkey that lives in the rainforests and plateaus of Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Congo. They have olive to dark grey fur, a white stomach, and distinctive coloration on the face; a long pink strip runs down the middle of their muzzle to their nostrils, with blue pads on either side. They also have a yellow beard. Mandrill males are much larger than – and look very different from – females, with extremely bright colours on their faces and hindquarters. Males measure between 75 and 95cm, weighing 19 to 40kg, whereas females average between 55 and 66cm and weigh 15 to 30kg.
Latin Name
Mandrillus sphinx
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mandrill
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Animal Facts
The mandrill is the largest monkey species in the world.
A group of mandrills is called a 'horde'; a horde can include up to 1300 individuals. Female mandrills live in family groups and all help each other with raising infants.
Mandrills have large cheek pouches that they store food in, often hiding food from their group mates to eat it in peace later.
The bright colours of a male mandrill's face and hindquarters are caused by testosterone and indicate the male's dominance level.
In 'The Descent of Man', Charles Darwin wrote that 'no other member in the whole class of mammals is coloured in so extraordinary a manner as the adult male mandrill'.