MANDRILL
The animal book, Smithsonian Institution: Animal, I have shows a very similar picture with the caption of 'A Warning Yawn'. They do it when they feel threatened. I can't figure what is threatening this one, who lives at the SF Zoo. He has a female and rarely looks up at the human visitors.
Another time I was there, it was early and the keepers had thrown some lettuce and other greens into their compound right below the area I was standing. The male was munching down a few leaves and another keeper walked up to the one who had thrown down the food. The mandrill made a very aggressive looking snarl and repeated it several times. I commented to the keepers that he appeared rather angry and hostile, but they graciously informed me that this was a sign of affection. The keeper who had walked up was his favorite and he was very glad to see her. See photos 6 & 7.
The mandrill walks on all four and is the largest of the monkeys. To find out more about this colorful critter, just click the link: Mandrill
More of my photos:
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Mandrill 1 |
Mandrill 2 |
Mandrill 3 |
Mandrill 4 |
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Mandrill 5 |
Mandrill 6 |
Mandrill 7 |
Mandrill 8 |