The Ugly Baboon Looking For Love

Poor ugly baboon with horrible hemorrhoids rejected by the troop while looking for some love and attention. Because baboons sit square on their rumps instead of squatting like some other monkey species, their butts are covered with hairless pads of calloused skin called "ischial callouses". This skin has no nerve endings and provides a permanent cushion for the baboon. There is also a bit of a ridge on the pads which allows for a secure seat on a thin branch. Baboons often sleep in an upright seated position on a tree branch, and this calloused area is believed to protect them and keep them secure in the trees. Both sexes in all baboon species have these calloused areas, and the pads will vary in color. The males of some species have red butts occasionally too, in times of heightened aggression or during mating. So, with a large area of skin being hairless for the purpose of comfortable seating, the exposed skin has evolved over time to become an indicator of sorts as well. When female baboons come into season, their entire genital region, including the rump cushion, engorges and turns red. This alerts males to her fertility. Once she is impregnated, the redness subsides, and when she has a lactating youngster it is at its least red, because she will not generally be ovulating again until the baby is weaned. In a fascinating twist, it has been observed that some females with infants may actually falsely become reddened when a new male has taken over the troop. Since he is intent on mating with all females in the troop, the new male often kills any infants in order for the mother to come back into season and be willing to mate with him. Researchers have recently observed females with infants becoming red and swollen immediately after the new male gains control of the troop. She will mate with the male at this time, but is not actually ovulating, and will not become pregnant from these mating, however her swelling, redness, and willingness to mate may keep the new male from harming her infant. - amazing!