guinea baboon

primate

Also known as: Papio papio

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The guinea baboon (Papio papio) is one of five species of large, terrestrial monkeys found in Africa and Arabia. These primates are characterized by their long snouts and, in males, prominent canine teeth.1

Guinea baboons inhabit far western Africa and are known to be crop raiders. They live in troops of 10 to several hundred individuals, with a clear dominance hierarchy among males. Females typically remain in their birth troop, while males leave to join new ones.1

Baboons are omnivorous, consuming a diet of plants, seeds, fruits, roots, and occasionally small animals like rodents and birds. They are classified as Old World monkeys, belonging to the family Cercopithecidae.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

baboon
The small red Guinea baboon (P. papio) is restricted to far western Africa, and males have a cape of hair. These four species are often referred to collectively as savannah baboons, and they have much in common. All live in large cohesive troops numbering from 10 to several…
Read More
The small red Guinea baboon (P. papio) is restricted to far western Africa, and males have a cape of hair. These four species are often referred to collectively as savannah baboons, and they have much in common. All live in large cohesive troops numbering from 10 to several…
Read More