Question: How are baboons adapted to climate, feeding etc...

Suzanne Harvey answered on 28 Jun 2013:

That’s a really tough one! Baboons can actually survive in many different climates, which is probably why they’re so widespread across Africa. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any special adaptation they have to a particular climate.

As for food – they are well adapted to their diet because they are strong, and can easily climb very tall trees to get at fruit and nuts etc. Their strength also means they can find crabs by turning over rocks far bigger than a human could lift! They have very dexterous hands, which helps to open seed pods and strip leaves etc. However, because of their large body size, they need to spend most of their day eating, and would be much better off if they could access meat regularly. Their teeth are so large and strong that when they do get meat, they eat all of the bones as well. It’s pretty horrible to listen to them crunching through it! Sadly for them, they cannot hunt, so they have to make do without meat most of the time…