Gelada
Theropithecus gelada
Conservation Status
Least ConcernMammalia · Primates · Cercopithecidae
About
The gelada, sometimes called the bleeding-heart monkey or the gelada baboon, is a species of Old World monkey found only in the Ethiopian Highlands, living at elevations of 1,800–4,400 m (5,900–14,400 ft) above sea level. It is the only living member of the genus Theropithecus, a name derived from the Greek root words for "beast-ape". Like its close relatives in genus Papio, the baboons, it is largely terrestrial, spending much of its time foraging in grasslands, with grasses comprising up to 90% of its diet.
Fun Fact
Geladas are the only primates that eat primarily grass — they have the most dexterous fingers of any non-human primate, plucking individual grass blades at remarkable speed, and they are the last surviving species of a once-diverse lineage.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Highland grasslands
Diet
Herbivore
Lifespan
15-20 years
Threats
- Urban Expansion
- Agricultural Conversion