Gelada “baboons” are not baboons (Papio spp.) in the truest sense, rather they are the last living members of the genus Theropithecus. The word Theropithecus literally translates to “Beast or Monster Ape.” Unlike their baboon cousins, geladas possess a bare patch of pinkish-red skin on their chest hence their nickname the “bleeding heart baboon.” Combine these two factoids and you get the nice alliterative title of the blog: Beast Ape and the Bleeding Heart Baboons.
Here are several excellent links on the evolution, ecology, and behavior of geladas.
