Mandrill

Mandrill

Range: Central west Africa, Gabon, Congo and Cameroon

Habitat: The forest floor and low trees of primary and secondary tropical rain forests

Lifespan: Up to 46 years in captivity

Gestation: About 220 days

Offspring: 1

Size: Height, 22-43 inches; weight, 25-65 pounds

Diet: Mainly leaves, greens, fruit, nuts, seeds, roots and fungi. Sometimes insects, invertebrates or small animals.

Characteristics: Little is known about the lifestyle of this endangered primate in nature. Adult males are about twice the size of females, although both sexes have a short, brown coat with paler under-shadings.

They also both have a pronounced muzzle with grooved ridges on either side of the nose which are blue in color. The nose and lips are red and the whole face is offset by a pale yellow fringe. Both sexes also have a purplish rump. Troops - which sometimes number several hundred animals - roam the forest floor to collect fallen fruit and rummage for food.

Threats: Key threats to this endangered species include habitat destruction and hunting.