mandrill

Everyday

A mandrill is a large monkey from the rainforests of central Africa; the males have a bright red and blue face and a colourful bottom. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons about primates and how animals show off, the mandrill is the world's largest monkey, and the brightest males are the strongest and lead the group. They live in big groups called hordes, eat fruit, seeds and insects, and have big teeth. In stories and films (Rafiki in «The Lion King» is partly a mandrill) it appears as a wise or funny character. Phrases: a horde of mandrills, mandrill's face.

Examples

• The mandrill has a bright red and blue nose. tree →
• Mandrills are the biggest monkeys in the world. tree →
• A male mandrill shows its long teeth to warn others. tree →
• Mandrills live in large groups in African forests. tree →
• The brightest male mandrill is the leader of the group. tree →
• Rafiki in «The Lion King» looks a bit like a mandrill. tree →
• Mandrills store food in their cheek pouches. tree →
• We drew the mandrill's colourful face in art class. tree →

Note

Countable: a mandrill, mandrills. Pronounced «MAN-dril». A mandrill is a monkey (it has a short tail), not an ape. Do not confuse with a «mandrel» (a tool) or a baboon, its close relative.