hamadryas baboon

[ham-uh-drahy-uh s]

noun

a baboon, Papio (Comopithecus) hamadryas, of Ethiopia, the male of which has a mantle of long, dark hair about the head and shoulders: held sacred by the ancient Egyptians.

Origin of hamadryas baboon

1930–35; < New Latin hamadryas the specific epithet (see hamadryad)

Also called sacred baboon.