The Mandrill

Mandrills are very colorful! 

The mandrill is a type of monkey that is very colorful. Male mandrills have bright red and blue faces, fluffy yellow beards, and purple bottoms! A mandrill's colors become brighter when the animal is excited. Mandrills are one of the largest monkeys on earth, and the males are much bigger than the females - an average male weighs around 70 pounds and an average female weighs around 30 pounds. They live in the rain forests of Western Africa. 

Mandrills are omnivores with sharp front teeth, and mainly eat fruits, seeds, roots, insects and small animals. Their cheeks have built-in pouches that are used to store snacks for later. Males usually hunt for food, while female mandrills and their young spend time in the trees. Mandrills live in giant groups called hordes, which can contain up to 200 animals. Leopards, large snakes and birds of prey are the main predators of the mandrill. 

Cool Fact: The brighter a male mandrill's nose, the more important he is within his horde!