Mandrills typically live in small social groups with one dominant male. Sometimes, these smaller groups will combine to form one large group called a horde. Hordes are very loud because they communicate with deep grunts and high-pitched screams while forging for food. Usually traveling on the ground, they will pick a tree to sleep in each night.
Once males meet a certain maturity level, they will begin to climb ranks within their hierarchy. With males being the most dominant in the group, you can tell the chain of command by the brightness of their face and rump. If they begin to move down in terms of ranking, their colors will begin to fade. Only the most brightly colored males will breed and once they have offspring of their own, they will be responsible for providing food for their young.
Fun Fact:
The character Rafiki in Disney’s “The Lion King” is referred to as a baboon but if you take a closer look, you’ll see he has the colorful face of a mandrill!
Mandrills have large cheek pouches that they will fill with food to eat later or to carry to their family.
Conservation Rating:
Vulnerable
