HAMADRYAS

also called Sacred Baboon, or Arabian Baboon (species Papio hamadryas), large, powerful monkey of the plains and open-rock areas of southern Arabia and northeast Africa. It has gray fur, and the male has a full mane over the forepart of the body. Length of the hamadryas is about 6070 cm (2428 inches), and weight may be up to 18 kg (40 pounds). The hamadryas is similar in habit to other baboon species but seems to live in smaller groups of a few females and a single male. Like the ibis, the hamadryas was sacred to Thoth, ancient Egyptian god of learning. Mummified bodies of many of these baboons have been unearthed, and the hamadryas is said to have been trained by the Egyptians to perform many tasks.