Facts about Mandrill Facial Coloration
- 05
Mandrills belong to the genus Mandrillus, and their striking facial colors serve a communication function during mating season, attracting females to the most vividly colored males.
- 04
Coloration in mandrill faces fades noticeably when males are defeated or lose social status, reflecting a direct physiological link between stress hormones and pigmentation.
- 03
Female mandrills also possess the characteristic blue and red facial markings, but these colorations are significantly less vivid than those of adult males.
- 02
Dominant male mandrills display more intense facial coloration than subordinate males, making the markings an honest signal of social rank within the group.
- 01
The vivid blue and red facial coloration of male mandrills is produced by structural coloration in the skin and is intensified by higher testosterone levels.