Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Anti-predator behavior of gelada baboons

  • Published:
Primates Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The anti-predator behavior of gelada baboons has been observed to consist of simple flight (i.e. they flee to cliffs after becoming alarmed by potential predators). However, active antipredator behavior was observed in a recently found gelada population in Arsi, Ethiopia. This population showed frequent active counter-attacks and severe mobbing at predators. Males fought domestic dogs on the plain and exhibited a systematic mobbing behavior towards a leopard on the cliff face to chase it off. These active anti-predator behaviors are the first confirmed reports on gelada baboons and may provide a useful insight for the understanding of the process of evolutionary adaptation to highland habitats by gelada baboons, as well as for the origin of this small southern population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altmann, S. A.;Altmann, J. 1970.Baboon Ecology. Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowlishaw, G. 1994. Vulnerability to predation in baboon populations.Behaviour, 131 (3–4): 293–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crook, J. H. 1966. Gelada baboon herd structure and movement: a comparative report.Symp. Zool. Soc. London, 18: 237–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crook, J. H.;Aldrich-Blake, P. 1968. Ecological and behavioral contrasts between sympatric ground dwelling primates in Ethiopia.Folia Primatol., 8: 192–227.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dunbar, R. I. M. 1977. Feeding ecology of gelada baboons: a preliminary report. In:Primate Ecology,Clutton-Brock,T. H. (ed.), Academic Press, London, pp. 251–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunbar, R. I. M. 1988.Primate Social Systems. Cornell Univ. Press, Ithaca.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunbar, R. I. M. 1993a. Social organization of the geladas. In:Theropithecus: The Rise and Fall of a Primates Genus,Jablonski,N. G. (ed.), Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, pp. 425–440.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunbar, R. I. M. 1993b. Socioecology of the extinctTheropithecus: a modelling approach. In:Theropithecus: The Rise and Fall of a Primates Genus,Jablonski,N. G. (ed.), Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, pp. 465–486.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunbar, R. I. M.;Dunbar, E. P. 1974. Ecological relations and niche separation between sympatric terrestrial primates in Ethiopia.Folia Primatol., 21: 36–60.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Isbell, L. A. 1994. Predation on primates: ecological patterns and evolutionary consequences.Evol. Anthropol., 3 (2): 61–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwamoto, T. 1979. Feeding ecology. In:Ecological and Sociological Studies of Gelada Baboons,Kawai,M. (ed.), Kodansha, Tokyo, pp. 280–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwamoto, T. 1993. The ecology ofTheropithecus gelada. In:Theropithecus: The Rise and Fall of a Primates Genus,Jablonski,N. G. (ed.), Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, pp. 441–452.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwamoto, T.;Dunbar, R. I. M. 1983. Thermoregulation, habitat quality and the behavioural ecology of gelada baboons.J. Anim. Ecol., 52: 357–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jablonski, N. G. 1993. The phylogeny ofTheropithecus. In:Theropithecus: The Rise and Fall of a Primates Genus,Jablonski,N. G. (ed.), Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, pp. 209–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawai, M.;Dunbar, R. I. M.;Ohsawa, H. 1983. Social organization of gelada baboon: social units and definition.Primates, 24: 13–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawai, M.;Iwamoto, T. 1979. Nomadism and activities. In:Ecological and Sociological Studies of Gelada Baboons,Kawai,M. (ed.), Kodansha, Tokyo, pp. 251–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mori, A.;Belay, G. 1990. The distribution of baboon species and a new population of gelada baboons along the Wabi-Shebeli river, Ethiopia.Primates, 31: 495–508.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mori, A.; Iwamoto, T.; Bekele, A. 1997. A case of infanticide in a recently found gelada population in Arsi, Ethiopia.Primates, 38.

  • Ohsawa, H. 1979. The local gelada population and environment of the Gich area. In:Ecological and Sociological Studies of Gelada Baboons,Kawai,M. (ed.), Kodansha, Tokyo, pp. 3–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yalden, D. W.;Largen, M. J.;Kock, D. 1977. Catalogue of the mammals of Ethiopia: 3. Primates.Monitore Zoologico Italiano (N. S. suppl. IX), 1: 1–52.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education, Miyazaki University, 1-1, Gakuen-Kibanadai-Nishi, 889-21, Miyazaki, Japan

    Toshitaka Iwamoto

  2. Primate Research, Institute, Kyoto University, Kanrin, Inuyama, 484, Aichi, Japan

    Akio Mori

  3. Nihon-Fukushi University, Handa, 475, Aichi, Japan

    Masao Kawai

  4. Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Afework Bekele

Authors
  1. Toshitaka Iwamoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Akio Mori
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Masao Kawai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Afework Bekele
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Iwamoto, T., Mori, A., Kawai, M. et al. Anti-predator behavior of gelada baboons. Primates 37, 389–397 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02381374

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02381374

Key Words

Search

Navigation