# Gelada (*Theropithecus gelada*) Geladas are unique monkeys that live in the mountains of Ethiopia. They are known for their beautiful, long hair and their special way of sitting, which looks like they are always relaxing! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Gelada](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Southern_gelada_%28Theropithecus_gelada_obscura%29_female_with_baby.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Southern_gelada_%28Theropithecus_gelada_obscura%29_female_with_baby.jpg) ## Appearance The Gelada is a large, terrestrial monkey with shaggy, golden-brown fur and a distinctive bare, red, hourglass-shaped patch on its chest. Males boast a long, flowing mane around their shoulders, making them visually different from other baboons. They have dark faces and light eyelids. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Cercopithecidae - **Genus:** Theropithecus ## Interesting facts - Baby Geladas cling to their mother's back, riding along as she forages for food! - Geladas sleep clinging to steep cliff faces at night to avoid predators! - Geladas spend most of their lives sitting down, even while constantly eating grass! - They use over 30 different sounds to communicate, like a complex secret monkey language! ## Special abilities - **Ground Grazer:** Gelada can chew grass all day because their unique teeth and digestive system are specialized for a plant-heavy diet. - **Facial Frequencies:** Gelada has complex vocalizations combined with facial expressions that help them communicate detailed messages to their large troops. - **Chest Communication:** Gelada can display social status and mood with a bare, red, hourglass-shaped chest patch that changes color and intensity. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-75 cm - **Weight:** 10-20 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 165-180 days ## Diet & Feeding Geladas munch on grasses, herbs, and roots, making them expert plant-eaters! - **Primary Foods:** grass blades, grass seeds, roots, rhizomes, flowers - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Primary predator, especially for young. - **Eats:** Ethiopian Wolf (*Canis simensis*) — Occasionally preys on young geladas. - **Eaten by:** Spotted Hyaena (*Crocuta crocuta*) — Can hunt them, particularly at night. - **Depends on:** African Foxtail Grass (*Hyparrhenia anamesa*) — A key food source in their habitat. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always observe animals from a distance and do not try to touch or feed them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Gelada? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Gelada? 50-75 cm ### How much does Gelada weigh? 10-20 kg ### How long does Gelada live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Gelada move? 35 km/h ### What does Gelada eat? Geladas munch on grasses, herbs, and roots, making them expert plant-eaters! ### Where is Gelada usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Gelada hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [NaturZoo Rheine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturzoo-rheine) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo - [Zoologischer Garten Magdeburg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologischer-garten-magdeburg) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Chemnitz](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-chemnitz) — Sachsen, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Gelada](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/gelada) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Gelada: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gelada)