This event is also what causes the baboon’s bottom to swell to a much larger size than usual.Īfter this period in the female baboon’s fertility cycle, her bottom shrinks back to its normal size and goes back to its usual color. This retention of fluids gives the baboon’s bottoms the flush red appearance that this monkey is so well known for. Sometime around the 37th day of their fertility cycles, the female baboon may experience sexual swelling that causes blood, water, and other body fluids to be retained in the reproductive areas of the baboon’s body. The same study suggests that males count females’ post-partum cycles and avoid making advances towards mating if they feel it is “too soon.” What Makes a Baboon’s Bottom Red?Ī female baboon’s butt swells and turns red due to the retention of blood and body fluids in this region as a result of sexual swelling. This theory has been debunked as of late as studies have shown that male baboons preferred to mate with women who have had more post-partum cycles since giving birth. The size and color of the female baboon’s bottoms were believed to function as an aphrodisiac to the male members of this monkey community and served as a measure by which they gauged the attractiveness of a potential mate. Measure of AttractivenessĪnother once accepted belief around the buttocks of the baboon is that male baboons were more attracted to females with bigger and brighter bottoms. These include ranks within the troop, post-partum cycles, and so on.Īs a result, the size or amount of swelling that occurs in the female’s bottoms during her fertile period is no longer used as an indicator for conception success and survivability of infant baboons. Many factors affect the female’s ability to conceive and successfully rear her young. However, recent studies done in 2015 have shown that this is simply not the case. It was also believed that females with bigger bottoms will not only begin mating at an earlier age, but will also be able to produce more infants all of which have a higher survival rate as opposed to those with smaller buttocks. It was also once believed that the bigger and redder the female baboon’s buttocks were, the better the chances for this specific baboon to conceive and successfully raise their young past infancy. Indicator of Chances of Conception and Infant Survivability Most baboons usually take a break for around one year to focus on raising their newborn infant.ĭuring this time, multiple cycles may occur wherein the female’s bottom will appear red and swollen but she will not receive any invitations to reproduce. However, while a female baboon’s body may be ready to conceive, the baboon herself may not be receptive to mating advances all the time especially if she has just given birth. When a baboon’s butt swells and begins to turn visibly red, it signals to the male baboons that she is in a specific stage of her monthly cycle and biologically ready to conceive. This phenomenon occurs once each month and will last around 10 to 20 days at a time. Indicator of FertilityĪs mentioned above, a female baboon’s butt will turn red as an indicator of her fertility. These buttocks actually serve several functions in the baboons’ lives that are often overlooked.

While these red bottoms certainly are amusing to look at, this is not the only function that this unique derriere serves. What are the Functions of a Baboon’s Red Bottoms? When the female baboon’s bottoms swell and turn red, it is usually an indication that they are fertile and ready for mating.Īside from turning red, the baboon’s bottoms also swell four to up to almost ten inches (roughly around 10 to over 25 centimeters) which further emphasizes their buttocks. Instead, the color of the female baboon’s butt can be indicative of what stage of their fertility cycle they are in. At the same time, female baboon butts aren’t always red. Male baboon buttocks may appear pinkish but never totally red. That’s right - the colored buttocks that set these monkeys apart are actually an indicator of fertility. The red bottoms that baboons are so popularly known for are actually an indicator used for mating. 4 Can a Baboon Voluntarily Make Her Bottom Red?.

2.2 Indicator of Chances of Conception and Infant Survivability.

2 What are the Functions of a Baboon’s Red Bottoms?.

Red bottoms