Within the Hamadryas band, females are preoccupied with gaining the favour of the dominant male, fighting among themselves to groom him. But they ignore females from other bands. The dominant male focuses on keeping his females from straying, and sometimes fight for possession of a female. Male combat involves rapid batting with hands and open jaws, but rarely result in actual all out fighting. Males also protect their harem from danger, bringing up the rear and putting up a defence, while females run off with the young.
Male baboons are large and powerful and have a more massively built skull than the females.
Males have a sagittal crest, enormous jaws and huge upper canine teeth. Their powerful shoulders are enhanced by a mantle of long hair. This is probably because competition among males for the privileged status of leader has selected for larger and better equipped males. But if a male loses his harem, his mane loses its silvery sheen and his fur turns brown just like the females. To start his harem, a young Hamadryas male must steal a female from another band.