Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) lives in tropical rainforest across Nigeria, Cameroon, and Bioko Island. It feeds on fruits and insects. Its conservation status is Endangered.
Fascinating facts about the Drill
- Only about four thousand drills survive in the wild, a number that underscores their precarious status. This tiny population is confined to a range of just 19,000 to 20,000 km² across Nigeria, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, making their habitat exceptionally limited.
- Male drills possess massive canine teeth, reaching up to 5.08 cm in length, while females have canines of only about 1 cm. These impressive fangs complement the males' larger body size, with an average weight of 32.3 kg and a length of 82 cm, compared with females that weigh around 11.7 kg and measure 66 cm.
- Males with brighter chin and rear colours have higher ranks within a troop, and these vividly coloured individuals are also the most sexually active. The bright fur therefore signals social dominance rather than attracting females, as researchers found that females show no mating preference for brighter males. This suggests that colouration primarily influences male-male interactions and hierarchy formation.
- When several troops merge, they can form gatherings of more than one hundred individuals. Typical drill troops contain between 15 and 75 members, but researchers have observed two or more troops joining to create groups that exceed 100 monkeys. These massive assemblies occur in the fragmented pockets of their range, allowing many individuals to share a single sleeping area before dispersing again for foraging.
- The drill's occupied area is slightly smaller than the state of West Virginia, making a very small geographical home range. Its overall range spans only 19,000 to 20,000 km² and is confined to three West African nations: Nigeria, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. This limited space is broken into fragmented pockets, meaning each population lives in a very restricted habitat.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeNigeria, Cameroon, and Bioko Island
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietFruits and insects
About the Drill
In the lush, vibrant heart of the African jungle, the drill moves with a quiet confidence, its muscular frame gliding effortlessly through the dense undergrowth as it forages for fruit and leaves. With its distinctive, almost human-like features and expressive face, this enigmatic creature exudes a sense of intelligent curiosity, as if constantly assessing its surroundings with a discerning eye. As it navigates the shadows, its piercing gaze seems to hold a deep wisdom, a testament to the enduring spirit of a species that, despite being endangered, remains a potent symbol of the wild beauty and resilience of its native habitat.
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Drill photographed on Feravox
