
The mandrills of West Africa are large-bodied, travel in small groups, and are noted for the bright colors on the rump and face of the males. The male mandrill's fearsome face is an extraordinary combination of a brilliant blue muzzle and bright crimson snout. The female is duller in color.(Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, Copyright (c) 1994, 1995 Compton's NewMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved)
Large W African forest-living baboon 'Mandrillus sphinx', most active on the ground. It has large canine teeth like the drill 'M. leucophaeus', to which it is closely related. The nose is bright red and the cheeks striped with blue. There are red callosities on the buttocks; the fur is brown, apart from a yellow beard.((c) Copyright Helicon Publishing Ltd 1996)
The mandrill, P. sphinx, a large baboon of western Africa, has an enormous head, crested and bearded, and almost no forehead. Another west ern African species is the drill, P. leucophaeus, somewhat smaller than the mandrill, but similar in temperament. The mandrill and drill are placed by some experts in their own genus, Mandrillus.(Excerpt from Infopedia)
According to Lauren R., the bright colors on the face of the male
mandrill brighten when challenged!