The baboon has an unusual four-level social system called a multilevel society.
Most social interaction occurs within small groups called one-male units or harems containing one male and up to 10 females, which the males lead and guard.
 A harem often includes a younger "follower" male that may be related to the leader.
 Two or more harems unite repeatedly to form clans.
 Within clans, males are close relatives of one another and have an age-related dominance hierarchy.
 Bands are the next level.
 Two to four clans form bands of up to 400 individuals which usually travel and sleep as a group.
 Males rarely leave their bands, and females are occasionally transferred or traded between bands by males.
 Bands may fight with one another over food or territory, and the adult male leaders of the units are the usual combatants.
Bands also contain solitary males that are not harem leaders or followers and move freely within the band.
Several bands may come together to form a troop, usually at sleeping cliffs.
The baboon has an unusual four-level social system called a multilevel society. Most social interaction occurs within small groups called one-male units or harems containing one male and up to 10 females, which the males lead and guard.  A harem often includes a younger "follower" male that may be related to the leader.  Two or more harems unite repeatedly to form clans.  Within clans, males are close relatives of one another and have an age-related dominance hierarchy.  Bands are the next level.  Two to four clans form bands of up to 400 individuals which usually travel and sleep as a group.  Males rarely leave their bands, and females are occasionally transferred or traded between bands by males.  Bands may fight with one another over food or territory, and the adult male leaders of the units are the usual combatants. Bands also contain solitary males that are not harem leaders or followers and move freely within the band. Several bands may come together to form a troop, usually at sleeping cliffs.
Hamadryas baboon