Mandrillus sphinx

Mandrills are highly social and form large, multi-male/multi-female groups (sometimes called hordes) that forage together on the forest floor and in the canopy. They are primarily diurnal, omnivorous (fruit, seeds, invertebrates, small vertebrates), communicate via vocalizations, facial displays and scent marking, and show complex dominance hierarchies—dominant males gain prime access to mates and food.

Reproduction is seasonal or tied to food availability in many populations; dominant males typically secure most matings during peak breeding periods. Females bear a single offspring after a gestation of roughly six months; mothers provide intensive care while infants learn foraging and social behavior within the group.

Mandrills show strong sexual dimorphism: adult males are substantially larger and far more colorful than females, who are smaller and more cryptically colored. Males develop pronounced cheek ridges and long canines, and both sexes use facial color, body posture, and scent glands for communication.

Endemic to the rainforests of west–central Africa (notably Gabon, Cameroon, Congo region), mandrills have long been part of indigenous ecosystems and cultures. Their numbers and range have been reduced over the past century by forest conversion, hunting for bushmeat, and road/access expansion.

Mandrills are classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and heavy hunting pressure for bushmeat; some local populations are more at risk than others. Conservation actions include protected-area management, anti-poaching patrols, community-based programs, and captive-breeding/education initiatives aimed at reducing hunting and preserving remaining forest habitat.