Mandrill
Mandrillus sphinx
Quick answer
The mandrill is the largest monkey species, with males displaying vivid blue and red facial ridges and rumps. Weighing up to 35 kg, living about 25 years, and reaching 40 km/h, it inhabits rainforests of central Africa and carries the longest canines relative to body size among primates.
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Mandrill facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Mandrillus sphinx |
|---|---|
| Diet | Omnivore — fruit, seeds, leaves, insects, and small animals |
| Habitat | Rainforests and gallery forest of central Africa |
| Lifespan | 20–25 years in the wild |
| Weight | 19–35 kg (42–77 lb); males much larger than females |
| Top speed | Up to 40 km/h (25 mph) in forest sprints |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Primates |
| Family | Cercopithecidae |
| Genus | Mandrillus |
Where it lives
Rainforests of Gabon, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and southwestern Central African Republic.
What is a group of mandrills called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Mandrills is called a troop.
Baby name
A baby Mandrill is called an infant.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Distribution and habitat
Mandrills live in Rainforests of Gabon, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and southwestern Central African Republic. Preferred habitat includes rainforests and gallery forest of central africa. Across Africa, population density reflects prey availability, water access, and human disturbance. Protected areas and wildlife corridors remain essential for long-term persistence.
Physical traits and behaviour
Mandrills typically reach about 1 m in length and 35 kg in weight, with top speeds near 40 km/h. The world's most colourful primate. Daily activity, social structure, and seasonal movements reflect pressures in their native environment.
Diet and ecological role
Mandrills feed on omnivore — fruit, seeds, leaves, insects, and small animals. Foraging shifts with season and local abundance. As mammals, they influence food webs — controlling prey, dispersing seeds, or shaping habitat through feeding and movement.
Conservation and coexistence
Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss, hunting, and climate change threaten many populations. Responsible ecotourism and community conservation help in parts of their range. Never approach or feed wild mandrills.
Human interest and research
Mandrills feature in folklore, tourism, and scientific study worldwide. Ongoing research tracks population trends, genetics, and responses to environmental change — data that guides national protection policies.
Dig deeper into the Mandrill
- Are Mandrill Endangered
Dig deeper into mandrill — are mandrill endangered.
- How Long do Mandrill Live?
Dig deeper into mandrill — how long do mandrill live.
- Mandrill Facts 5
Dig deeper into mandrill — mandrill facts 5.
- What do Mandrill Eat
Dig deeper into mandrill — what do mandrill eat.
- Where do Mandrill Live?
Dig deeper into mandrill — where do mandrill live.
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Range & geography
Did you know? Mandrill facts
- Mandrills are large forest baboons with vivid blue and red facial ridges.
- Mandrills are more colourful forest specialists; olive baboons range more openly.
- Mandrills are among the largest — males can exceed 30 kg.
- Conservation: Vulnerable.
Diet & feeding
Mandrill feeds primarily as a fruit, seeds, insects, small animals. Bushmeat hunting and deforestation threaten remaining populations.
Adaptations
- Facial colour intensity signals dominance and health to rivals and females.
- Bushmeat hunting and deforestation threaten remaining populations.
Behaviour & ecology
- Facial colour intensity signals dominance and health to rivals and females.
- Bushmeat hunting and deforestation threaten remaining populations.
Communication
- Mandrill uses scent, posture, and vocal signals to mark territory and coordinate social behaviour.
- Communication intensity often peaks during breeding seasons and territorial disputes.
Habitat & range
Rainforests of central Africa
Ecological role
Mandrill plays a recognised ecological role in rainforests of central africa.
Frequently asked questions about the Mandrill
Where do mandrills live?
Rainforests of Gabon, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and southwestern Central African Republic.
What do mandrills eat?
Omnivore — fruit, seeds, leaves, insects, and small animals.
How long do mandrills live?
About 25 years in the wild on average.
Are mandrills endangered?
IUCN status: Vulnerable.
What is a group of mandrills called?
A group of Mandrills is called a troop.
What is a baby mandrill called?
A baby Mandrill is called an infant.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Mandrill:
-
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Vulnerable) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Mandrillus sphinx.
- IUCN Red List — Mandrillus sphinx.
Conservation status (Vulnerable) and population trends.
- Animal Diversity Web — Mandrillus sphinx. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Life history, morphology, and range.
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