ABSTRACT
Found throughout most of Africa, Papio is one of the most widely distributed primate genera. The term common baboon encompasses numerous and geographically extensive Papio subtaxa that typically live in troops. The descriptions of primate behavior are arranged under four headings: ecology, sociality, life cycle, and cognition. Pregnant females are on the periphery, which can be explained in proximate terms by a need to concentrate on feeding, and by avoidance of even ordinary aggression from other troop members. Adult females form stable linear hierarchies, including the ranking of matrilines in larger troops. Distinctive communication signals include the raised-brow threat, wahoo bark, and male-male greeting. Chacmas lack male coalitions. Hamadryas baboons are somewhat smaller than other Papio, but size dimorphism is comparable. Distinctive features of hamadryas life are mainly expressed in their modular social organization and related aspects of the life cycle. Spatial cohesion is demonstrated by the fact that almost all grooming takes place within the unit.
