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Mandrill


Mandrill
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-12
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon Powershot S1-IS
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-01-01 4:18
Viewed: 26897
Points: 31
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This picture was taken at the San Francisco Zoo.

Mandrill
Mandrillus sphinx

Fascinating Facts:
Unlike the plains-dwelling baboons, which are well-organized to protect against leopards and lions, mandrills are less social. Males are constantly on the alert for predators. If baring his teeth does not scare off an intruder, the adult male will work himself into a frenzy, jumping up and down. Bright red spots will appear on his wrists and ankles and his chest will turn a vivid blue. It is believed that this color change is produced by a specialized circulatory function.

Physical Characteristics:
Male mandrills are significantly larger than the females, weighing from 44 to 62 lbs., while females can weigh up to 25 pounds. This baboon has a stocky, powerful body and muscular arms. The males’ massive heads appear too large for their bodies, and they have a blue to purple naked rump which is duller in females and juveniles. The male’s muzzle is large, the nose is bright red with blue, ridged swelling running lengthwise on either side. They also have white cheek whiskers, a yellow beard and a dark brown crest on the crown of the head. The females and juveniles are similar but duller because the bright red pigment is dependent upon adult male hormones. The blue coloring requires a similar hormone, but once established, it becomes structural and permanent. The overall coat is olive-brown with an irregularly barred pattern with pale underparts.

Habitat/Diet:
Mandrills are found in the high moist forests and low levels of trees and forest floor of Benin and Togo in Africa.
In the wild, mandrills feed on fruits, roots, leaves, plants, seeds, nuts, fungi, snails, worms, herbs, invertebrates, insects, tubers and greens. They may also eat the fruit of the oil palm and manioc obtained from nearby farmers.

Social Behavior:
Much of the mandrills’ time is spent on the forest floor, but they do climb to the middle layer of trees to sleep. Their social organization is harems, small groups (up to 14 in number) with one adult male, several adult females and their young. During the dry season, several harems may join to form larger troops of up to 200 members.
Their bright facial colors are perceived as threat signals and a penetrating stare is used to intimidate a male rival and to establish domination. To denote submission, they lower their body and show their colored rear end.

Status In The Wild:
Mandrills are highly endangered due to habitat loss and extensive hunting for food.

Source
red45, h_sedghi, olontur, krvanheuven, wallhalla15, dew77, marhowie, Mousehill, livios, scottevers7, Lourens, OdetteVN has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To mrcrow: Sharpeningmanyee 3 01-02 04:18
To Mousehill: Rafili : )manyee 1 01-01 17:49
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2006-01-01 4:20]

Hi Manyee!

What a face! Wise eyes are even more noticeable on this painted face. Great pose and look. Very nice job!

Very nice shot of this magnificant mandrill, nice POV shows the brilliant facial markings of this primate well. Happy New Year! :)

very nice portrait

Now that's a face (and a look!) to start the new year!
beautifuly done.
Regards, Petru

Hey Manyee,
Great shot. though I think a slightly faster shutter would have reduced the blur... But overall, the colors and pose and especially the POV are great!

TFS
Sam

Manyee,

Nice picture. Excellent POV. Colors of the face are great. Image is however slightly soft (taken in low light with slow shutterspeed?)
thanks for posting
Kim

Very nice portrait shot Manyee, great sharpness and POV, well captured too. Thanks for sharing.

pretty scary character this...but super shot and not too posed looking..more natural and alive
did the w/s only to check out sharpness

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2006-01-01 11:35]

Hello Manyee!
Funny capture.POV,framing,expression on face and composition are wonderful.TFS...:-)

Very well composed frame and definite eye contact ManYee. Great colors and what an interesting face! I've never seen one of this yet (in the flesh), that I can remember.
Well done and Thank You!

Really fascinating face Manyee! Makes me think of Rafiki in "The Lion King". Great expression that you've captured very well. have a very good 2006!

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
  • [2006-01-01 16:17]

Manyee, I have never seen one of them.

Great guy. Excellent eye contact and composition.

Hi Manyee,
The colors in these faces are amazing. Great eye contact, looks like he is coming after the photographer. I think the sharpening in the workshop also brings up alot of noise. A tradeoff.
Scott

  • Great 
  • tinman Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 242 W: 7 N: 458] (2663)
  • [2006-01-02 13:05]

A touch soft, but very interesting subject non the less

Wow!!!!
Beautyfull photo Manyee :-)


Matija

Very good image, Mayee. I love that face!!

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