There is no specific reason. Everything indicates that the very evolution of the species is responsible for the profusion of colors on the face and buttocks of mandrills, a group of baboons found only in the tropical forests of African countries such as Cameroon, Gabon, Congo and Guinea. On the animal’s face, the carnivalesque combination includes a reddish snout surrounded by blue furrows, an orange beard and white whiskers. Further down, over on the chairs, the skin is predominantly lilac, but takes on a reddish-purple hue near the edges. The great mystery is explaining how the mandrill became the most colorful mammal in nature. Scientists have already discovered, for example, that colors are more vivid in males – among them, group leaders are even more striking. It may be that these changes are related to the higher presence of testosterone, the male sex hormone, but no one is sure about that. Still with regard to colors, another curious characteristic is that, when the mandrill becomes nervous or excited, the brightness of its fur is accentuated even more. For now, that’s all that’s known about the flamboyant appearance of these baboons, which are among the largest ape species and can reach 90 centimeters in length. Living in groups of up to 50 individuals led by a dominant male, mandrills are primarily herbivores but can also feed on insects and small vertebrates. To protect themselves from predators, especially leopards, they open their mouths wide and display their large, sharp upper canines. Due to the destruction of the forests where they live, mandrills are on the list of endangered animals. The way is to protect them in zoos, where the species can live for more than 40 years.
