Home › Mammalia › Cercopithecidae › Gelada (Theropithecus gelada)
SPECIES PROFILE
Gelada (Theropithecus gelada)
Theropithecus
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Ethiopian highlands only
DIET
Herbivorous
HABITAT
High grassland plateaus and cliffs
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Cercopithecidae
GENUS
Theropithecus
📋 Description
SIZE
Up to 75 cm + 50 cm tail; 12-20 kg
COLORATION
Brown with a bare red patch of skin on the chest
ADAPTATIONS
Only primate that feeds mainly on grass; strong fingers to pluck blades
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
High grassland plateaus and cliffs
DIET
Herbivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Ethiopian highlands only
REPRODUCTION
Single infant
DIET DETAILS
Grass blades, seeds and roots
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss, agriculture
💡 Interesting Facts
1
The world's only grass-grazing monkey, living in herds of hundreds on Ethiopia's roof.
2
Males wear a bright red 'bleeding heart' patch on the chest to signal status.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Simien Mountains NP
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
October-March
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Walk the Simien escarpment by day; huge herds graze the grass and lounge on cliff edges.
