Baby mandrill born at Rome’s Bioparco Zoo

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Blanca, a baby mandrill at Rome’s Bioparco Zoo, is only about two weeks old now, but when she’s fully grown she’ll weigh up to 30 pounds (males can weigh 60 pounds or more). Adult mandrills, particularly males, are known for their bright facial coloring.

Mandrills are the world’s largest species of monkey. They were once classified in the same genus as their relatives, baboons, but recent scientific research suggests that they should be regrouped into a new genus, Mandrillus.

Mandrills are sometimes referred to as ‘forest baboons’ and they live in the wild only in equatorial African rain forests. They have cheek pouches that allow them to store food (primarily fruit, roots, insects and small reptiles and amphibians) to be eaten later.

More pictures after the jump!

-- Lindsay Barnett