Monkeys come in all shapes and sizes and exist all over the world. Most monkeys live in Africa, Asia, Central America and South America. Many monkeys hang from branches and jump from tree to tree, but some species of monkeys are also terrestrial. Some wild monkeys even spend their time in places inhabited by humans!
Monkeys are also excellent examples of sexual dimorphism. This is when males and females have distinct physical differences, usually in size and color. An example of sexual dimorphism is the size and color of the coats of black howler monkeys. Males usually weigh about 32 pounds and have a black coat, while females usually weigh 16 pounds and have a light coat. In primates, males are very often larger than females, mainly due to competition in mating. Monkeys are incredibly social animals that compete, communicate, and collaborate in a multitude of fun ways. Learn about these incredible animals here. These are the 10 largest monkeys in the world by maximum weight.
# 10: Ice Cold – 45 lbs.

Sometimes referred to as the bleeding monkey, Gelada can weigh up to 45 pounds. This monkey is a terrestrial species that lives in the grasslands of Ethiopia, where its diet consists almost entirely of grass. Many people mistakenly think that gelada is a type of baboon, but in fact they also belong to a different genus. Gelads currently have Least Concern Conservation Status and are only threatened by human-induced habitat destruction. Among their predators are species such as leopards and hyenas.
Gelad has an incredibly complex multi-level social system as well as unique social behavior. When the Gelada is aggressive or behaving aggressively, it lifts the upper lip above the nose, revealing large teeth. This posing is common in competitive men and can lead to physical confrontation. Males also prove their worth as a mate with a bright red patch on their chest. This red, hairless area brightens in men as hormone levels rise, signaling that they are most fertile. Females also have this red spot, but it is less bright. Blisters form on the female’s red breast when she is most susceptible to mating.
# 9: Yellow Baboon – 55 lbs.

Male yellow baboons can weigh up to 55 pounds. The yellow baboon is named for its distinctive yellow hue and can be found in the savannas of eastern Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. The conservation status of the yellow baboon is of least concern.
Yellow baboons live in a social hierarchy where there is a dominant male and a subordinate male to compete. Rank in the hierarchy greatly affects the reproductive capacity available to humans, so the competition is fierce! Each order can consist of 8 to 200 baboons, including males and females. An interesting behavior that has been documented in yellow baboons is that lower-ranking males approach higher-ranking males holding the infant above their head to indicate that they are not going to attack or fight.
# 8: Nepalese Gray Langur – 58 lbs.

The largest Nepalese gray langur ever recorded weighed 58 pounds, but males usually weighed around 40 pounds. These langurs live in the Himalayas in Nepal, Tibet, India and Pakistan. They usually inhabit forests between 1,500 and 4,000 feet. These monkeys have the least dangerous conservation status.
Nepalese gray langurs are both arboreal and terrestrial, which means they spend time on the ground and in trees. They often run on all fours and can even jump 15 feet! They are common in developed areas inhabited by humans, and sometimes sleep on telephone poles rather than high up in a tree as usual. Nepalese gray langurs are also known to bark, scream and hiccup as forms of communication with other members of the same species.
# 7: Tibetan Macaque – 66 lbs.

The largest Tibetan macaque ever recorded weighed 66 pounds, despite their typical weight being between 29 and 43 pounds. They are one of the largest monkeys in Asia and can be found in Tibet and northern China. The preserved status of Tibetan macaques is endangered, which means that they are in danger of extinction in the future.
Tibetan macaques also have very interesting behaviors. Scientists have documented various modes of communication, each serving a different purpose, including cooing, squealing, shrill screaming, loud screaming, growling, barking, crying, modulated tonal screaming, and heavy breathing. They also use different facial expressions to communicate and are considered to be more diverse in communication than any other macaque. Competition between men is also particularly awful. Males are known to compete with other males in the dominance hierarchy for access to better food resources and mates. These battles are very brutal and often deadly.
# 6: Proboscis Monkey – 66 lbs.

The largest recorded proboscis of a monkey weighs about 66 pounds, but males are most commonly 35 to 50 pounds. Proboscis monkeys, which have received the corresponding nickname long-nosed monkeys, are found only in Borneo, Malaysia and Indonesia. These monkeys are classified as endangered mainly due to habitat loss through logging, oil palm plantations and hunting.
The proboscis monkey is well known for its incredibly unique nose. It is assumed that women prefer men who are capable of emitting louder vocalizations. A larger nose helps to emit louder calls, which can make males more attractive to males. This one-of-a-kind nose can exceed 4 inches in length and often hangs below the mouth. Female noses are also large compared to other monkeys, although not as large as those of males. The dramatic difference in nose size between men and women is another example of sexual dimorphism.
# 5: Hamadryas Baboon – 66 lbs.

Male hamadric baboons typically weigh up to 66 pounds. However, females reach a maximum weight of 33 pounds. These baboons are mainly found in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. The habitat of these land monkeys consists of arid arid savannas and rocky areas. Interestingly, hamadryas baboons often appear in ancient Egyptian art and were considered sacred; however, they are now extinct in Egypt. Their conservation status is of least concern.
The hamadry baboon differs from other baboons and macaques in its unique social structure. Many monkeys, including other baboon species, have a matriarchal hierarchy – a ranking system among females. However, hamadryas baboons only have a patriarchal hierarchy. Males of this species often get into violent fights over the females they control and try to steal females from other groups.
# 4: Olive Baboon – 82 lbs.

A male olive baboon can weigh an impressive 82 pounds! Olive baboons have the largest geographic range of baboon species and inhabit 25 African countries. They usually live in savanna or forest ecosystems in large groups of up to 150 individuals. The conservation status of this baboon is of least concern.
As the most common type of baboon, olive baboons are very adaptable. Although most common in savannas, they are also known to inhabit temperate grasslands, coastal forests, rocky cliff regions, evergreen forests, and even the rainforests of Uganda. Therefore, olive baboons are found in many very different climatic regions. These areas range from nonexistent to heavy rainfall, mild temperatures of 50 degrees Fahrenheit to scorching 104 degrees, and dense forest cover to intense direct sunlight.
# 3 Chacma Baboon: 99 lbs.

Chakma baboons can weigh up to 99 pounds! Chakma baboons are the largest baboon species and the largest monkeys in the world in length. An adult can reach 45 inches in length and a tail up to 33 inches in length. This baboon is found in southern Africa, including South Africa, Angola, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The conservation status of the chakma baboon is of least concern.
Despite their incredible size, chakma baboons are popular prey. A common predator of the chakma baboon is the leopard. It has been studied and recorded that just over 20% of killed leopards are chakma baboons. African wild dogs also prey on these baboons, although they are smaller in size. A study in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park found that chakma baboons accounted for 44% of all African wild dogs killed.
# 2: drill – 110 lbs

The Driller Monkey is the second largest monkey in the world and weighs up to 110 pounds! Drills are considered one of the most endangered mammals, with only 3,000 individuals living in the wild. They are found in small areas of rainforest in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea.
The drills are less well known compared to the closely related mandrill, but they have similar interesting features. Male Drill’s buttocks are incredibly colorful, including shades of lilac, reds, blues and magenta. The intensity of this coloration indicates the social rank of the male driller in the unit. The male genitals also have shades of red and purple. Females are less brightly colored and differ greatly from males in body size. While males can grow up to 110 pounds, females usually weigh only 28 pounds! Females also lack pink chin coloration and have a solid gray-brown coat.
# 1: Mandrill – 119 pounds

The largest monkey in the world is the mandrill, which can weigh up to an incredible 119 pounds! Mandrill is easy to distinguish by its brightly colored edge. V Human OriginsCharles Darwin wrote that “no other representative of this class of mammals has such an unusual coloration as the mandrill of an adult male.” These beautiful and terrifying monkeys inhabit the rainforests of Equatorial Guinea, southern Cameroon, Gabon and Congo. Mandrill is currently listed as a vulnerable species.
The mandrill diet consists mainly of fruits and other plants. Less commonly, mandrills will eat meat in the form of small invertebrates such as beetles, termites, ants, and snails. They sometimes eat small vertebrates, including shrews, rats, frogs, and small birds. Mandrills only eat larger vertebrates. Despite their amazing size, mandrills are not apex predators. Like chakma baboons, they are hunted mainly by leopards.
Mandrill is one of the most sexually dimorphic mammals in the world due to sexual selection and mating competition. While the male can weigh up to 119 pounds, the average adult female weighs 27 pounds. Vivid complexions in males are also associated with sexual selection and do not appear in females.
Mandrills live in exceptionally large groups called “hodgepodge”. On average, the population is about 615 monkeys, but can be as high as 845. The largest recorded flock and the largest group of non-human primates ever recorded was in the Lope National Park in Gabon with 1,300 individuals. Clades usually consist of females and their dependent offspring. Males live in solitude and only join osprey when females are receptive to mating. Conflicts between men are rare, but when they do, they can be fatal.