Kinda Baboon
Encyclopedia
The Kinda baboon is a subspecies of baboon
present in the Miombo woodlands of Angola
, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, Zambia
, and possibly western Tanzania
. While the Kinda Baboon is often considered to be a subspecies of the yellow baboon
(Papio cynocephalus), it is distinct enough to merit status as full species (P. kindae) under the phylogenetic species concept.
Like the yellow baboon, the Kinda baboon is golden in color with a light build and lanky appearance. Unlike the yellow baboon and all other baboons, however, it is unusually small: adult males are approximately the size of adult females of other baboon species. The Kinda baboon is also characterized by its short face (relating to its small size), pink circles around its eyes, and infants born with white instead of black hair.
Baboons intermediate between the Kinda baboon and the yellow baboon in appearance and size are present in northeastern Zambia, and possibly in northern Malawi
and southwestern Tanzania. Such a broad area of intergradation has been taken as evidence of substantial genetic exchange between the two taxa.
The Kinda baboon appears to live in large (perhaps over 100 members) multimale, multifemale groups, similar to the Anubis and yellow baboons. Little else is known about its behavior.
The Kinda is named after its type locality, a town in the southern DRC.
Baboon
Baboons are African and Arabian Old World monkeys belonging to the genus Papio, part of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. There are five species, which are some of the largest non-hominoid members of the primate order; only the mandrill and the drill are larger...
present in the Miombo woodlands of Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, and possibly western Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. While the Kinda Baboon is often considered to be a subspecies of the yellow baboon
Yellow Baboon
The yellow baboon is a baboon from the Old World monkey family.Cynocephalus literally means "dog-head" in Greek due to the shape of its muzzle and head. It has a slim body with long arms and legs and a yellowish-brown hair. It resembles the Chacma baboon but is smaller and its muzzle is not as...
(Papio cynocephalus), it is distinct enough to merit status as full species (P. kindae) under the phylogenetic species concept.
Like the yellow baboon, the Kinda baboon is golden in color with a light build and lanky appearance. Unlike the yellow baboon and all other baboons, however, it is unusually small: adult males are approximately the size of adult females of other baboon species. The Kinda baboon is also characterized by its short face (relating to its small size), pink circles around its eyes, and infants born with white instead of black hair.
Baboons intermediate between the Kinda baboon and the yellow baboon in appearance and size are present in northeastern Zambia, and possibly in northern Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
and southwestern Tanzania. Such a broad area of intergradation has been taken as evidence of substantial genetic exchange between the two taxa.
The Kinda baboon appears to live in large (perhaps over 100 members) multimale, multifemale groups, similar to the Anubis and yellow baboons. Little else is known about its behavior.
The Kinda is named after its type locality, a town in the southern DRC.