Mandrill
Mandrillus sphinx

DESCRIPTION: This is the largest of the monkeys, it lives in Africa from south of the Sanaga river in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Congo.

It grows to a shoulder height of up to 508mm . It can weigh up to 54 kg when fully grown.

This monkey has a dramatic coloured face area and the buttocks are also bright lilac.

The Mandrill is usually found in thick rainforest. Generally large adults spend most time on the ground with smaller females and juveniles preferring the trees.

They feed mainly on the ground searching for fruits, nuts, other plant material, mushrooms, invertebrates and occasionally small vertebrates.

They live in groups of around 20 individuals with one large adult male. Occasionally they get together in harems and form troops of 200 animals or more.

The record longevity of Mandrillus is 46 years. The gestation is 7.5 months and usually one young is born. This species is under growing threat in the wild from loss of habitat and bush meat trading.