Baboons were robust Monkeys known as much for their unusual appearance as for their strength, standing up to four feet (1.2 m) tall and weigh around 90 pounds (40 kg). Their long, Dog-like muzzles were marked by pronounced ridges, and their sharp canines could be frightening when bared. Many had bright, bare patches of skin on their faces and rumps, ranging from red to pink, giving them a startling and distinctive look. Their coarse fur varied from olive to gray, and a mane often framed the face of dominant males, enhancing their formidable presence.
Baboons lived in large, tightly knit troops, sometimes numbering over a hundred. Social life was governed by strict hierarchies, with dominant males controlling access to food and mates, while grooming and alliance-building maintained bonds among group members. Communication was a mix of vocalizations, gestures, and facial expressions, often exaggerated to signal threat, submission, or play.
Omnivorous in diet, baboons fed on fruits, roots, seeds, insects, and small animals. They were clever and resourceful foragers, capable of exploiting Human settlements and adapting their behavior to changing conditions. Agile climbers, they sought safety in trees or cliffs when threatened but spent most of their time on the ground moving in organized bands.