A-B-O blood groups in Kenya olive baboons (Papio anubis)

A feral population of 183 Kenyan olive baboons representing 5 troops was surveyed for salivary ABO-like antigens. Unlike previously reported populations, a high frequency of the O allele and low frequency of the B allele were detected. This observation may be the result of founder effect and/or genetic drift.     

The Ap-Bp blood groups of baboons

Four isoimmunized baboons each produced isoantibodies defining a number of blood factors of baboon blood of which two, A^p and B^p, have been most intensively studied. The two blood factors determine the A^P-B^P blood group system which, judging from its serological behavior, may be the baboon analogue of the human M-N system and the chimpanzee V-A-B system. Tests for A^P-B^P types of 592 baboons showed striking differences in the distributions of the four types among the four sub-species, Papio cynocephalus, Papio anubis, Papio ursinus (South Africa) and Papio papio (Senegal). The baboon A^P-B^P types could also be demonstrated by tests on the red cells of geladas (Theropithecus gelada). If one assumes inheritance by multiple allelic genes, then the existence of only a single gene O^p need be invoked for Papio ursinus, three alleles O^p, A^p and B^p for Papio cynocephalus and Papio anubis, but four alleles for Papio papio including an allele, very frequent in that subspecies, which determines an agglutinogen having both blood factors A^p and B^p.     

A-B-O groups of Chacma baboons (Papio ursinus, Kerr) in South Africa

The blood and saliva groups of 51 Chacma baboons (Papio ursinus, Kerr) were determined. The ABO blood group frequencies differed significantly from another subspecies (P. u. ursinus) but they gave a close agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg estimates. Thus the data are compatible with the hypothesis that the saliva groups of baboons are the products of two allelic genes A and B that are inherited in a similar manner to the A and B genes of humans.     

One-male groups and intergroup interactions of mountain baboons

The behavioral ecology of mountain baboons, Papio ursinus,cuts across the traditional dichotomy between savannah and desert baboons, providing fresh opportunities to examine socioecological relationships. Mountain baboons were studied at a site where covariation in altitude and group size helps to clarify the influence of ecology on social behavior. One-male groups and lone males were regularly found in the highest-altitude zones. In encounters with multimale groups, a one-male group retreated; the group’s single male attacked his females, herding them far away from the multimale group. The male himself then approached and watched (and often loud-called at) this group. In a two-male group, the younger male herded the females, while the older sometimes defended the group. One-male groups did not show regular, stable aggregations, but two such groups seasonally coordinated their ranging “in tandem.” Ecological explanations for these behaviors and their relationship to the behavior of hamadryas baboons are evaluated, and a new theory of the origin of one-male groups in baboons is developed.     

Blood groups of baboons. Population genetics of feral animals

Blood and saliva from 495 Ethiopan baboons were collected in the field and tested for their human-type A-B-O groups while 493 blood samples were tested for their simian-type blood factors A^p, B^p, C^p, G^p, N^p, ca and hu. Four series of feral animals were tested: 194 olive baboons, a troop of 82 and another of 90 hamadryas baboons, and a series of 129 baboons classified as olive/hamadryas hybrids. In addition, 126 baboons from other sources were tested for their human-type A-B-O groups and 131 for their simian-type blood groups. Human-type groups A, B and AB but not group O were found in combined series of 621 animals. Gene frequency analysis also indicated the absence of group O. Population analysis of the data obtained for the 493 Ethiopian baboons has shown that the simian-type blood groups A^p and B^p are independent of one another. In contrast B^p and G^p appear to be determined by corresponding allelic genes; if confirmed by population data on additional series of animals, this would define the first baboon blood group system found. There is a close association between the blood group specificities ca and hu, the exact nature of which still remains to be clarified. Blood group ca, originally believed to be species specific, is found to be polymorphic in both olive baboons and hamadryas as well as in the hybrids; hu, on the other hand, present in all hamadryas tested, is polymorphic only in olive baboons.