# Any other mammals with head-manes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449 "2010-01-18T18:26:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EdwardLost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@EdwardLost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwardLost)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/1 "2010-01-18T18:26:09Z")
Reading the posts on Avatar got me thinking about how improbably human-like Hollywood aliens are portrayed. Of course, I understand this is for budgetary and “emotional connection” reasons. There may even be some logic behind assuming that intelligent aliens would be upright, hands-free creatures - but these aliens usually also share with humans the most ridiculous feature we possess: a mane of super-long hair right on the crowns of our heads. A lot of mammals have weird, non-functional display features, but I can’t think of any others with head-manes. Are there any? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/2 "2010-01-18T18:31:45Z")
Do you mean like the horse and lion? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/3 "2010-01-18T18:50:30Z")
I thought certain monkeys had manes. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/4 "2010-01-18T18:51:08Z")
I’m such a nut … my first thought was “zebra,” and my second was [colobus monkey](http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=colobus+monkey&sourceid=navclient-ff&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS298US298&ie=UTF-8). ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/5 "2010-01-18T19:03:29Z")
There are also [these guys](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fetchdog.com/images/medium/ChineseCrestedDogHairless.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fetchdog.com/learn-connect/dog-breed-center/c/chinese-crested-dog-hairless/Chinese-Crested-Dog-hairless/D/300110/P/1:5:51:503:5271/I/BR00005271&h=228&w=287&sz=8&tbnid=ACIEQ_z2AbD4JM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchinese%2Bcrested%2Bdog&usg=__gKyCGdvV9SAVklB2iFecvKoUU6Q=&ei=KrBUS5bYCIyYsgPRkYDYBw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=3&ct=image&ved=0CA8Q9QEwAg), but they may be cheating because they have been deliberately bred for their appearance. Then again, who’s to say aliens aren’t? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/6 "2010-01-18T19:12:15Z")
[Barry Gibb](http://www.yuddy.com/articleimages/barry%20gibbMTg5Mw==.jpg) is a mammal, isn’t he? Right? And [Peter Frampton](http://www.library.bromley.gov.uk/Arts/peterframpton.jpg) used to have a really impressive mane. ---
**Author:** ![EdwardLost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@EdwardLost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwardLost)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/7 "2010-01-18T19:35:36Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Do you mean like the horse and lion? I would call those neck manes. The colobus monkeys seem to have back manes. I was trying to think of an animal with a mane coming straight out of the top of the head, like in humans, Na’vi, Barry Gibb, and Peter Frampton. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/8 "2010-01-18T19:44:03Z")
> [@EdwardLost](#): > > I would call those neck manes. The colobus monkeys seem to have back manes. I was trying to think of an animal with a mane coming straight out of the top of the head, like in humans, Na’vi, Barry Gibb, and Peter Frampton. [This?](http://www.guzer.com/pictures/tall_mohawk.jpg) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/9 "2010-01-18T19:44:12Z")
Certain tamarin monkeys, like the [Cottontop](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottontop_Tamarin), have very “mane”-like hair on their heads. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/10 "2010-01-18T20:07:52Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] Do you mean like the horse and lion? [/QUOTE] > [@EdwardLost](#): > > I would call those neck manes. Mmmm, for “neck mane” I’ll reluctantly give you the horse but [this S.O.B.](http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/african-lion-closeup.jpg) has got a head mane. That it continues down his neck just shows what a bad-ass head mane it is. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/11 "2010-01-18T20:09:37Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Certain tamarin monkeys, like the [Cottontop](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottontop_Tamarin), have very “mane”-like hair on their heads. [Wanna make somethin’ of it?](http://www.csew.com/cottontop/images/CS_exhibits_cotton_top_tamarin_grpDfaces_01aug01_CATALOGED.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/12 "2010-01-18T20:23:52Z")
Okay, I’ll grant the lack of “head-manes,” but with the stipulation that very few other mammals are obligatory bipeds who would benefit from having a built-in parasol. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/13 "2010-01-18T20:33:37Z")
Do non-mammals count? The crests of cardinals, jays, and some other birds are rather mane-like. And male collies have manes, though those are more on the neck than the head. Which makes Lassie particularly ridiculous: Not only did they give a male dog a female name, but they chose the one breed of dog where it’d be obvious at a glance. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/14 "2010-01-18T21:02:23Z")
Why is it ridiculous? Makes perfect sense as insulation to me. Humanoid aliens would presumably benefit from that too. Also, [warthogs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Running_warthog.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/15 "2010-01-18T21:17:39Z")
Cheetah cubs have manes, but lose them as they mature: [![](https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/images/mammals/cheetah_cubs.jpg) ](https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/images/mammals/cheetah_cubs.jpg) [http://www.naturegraphics.net/bk335w%20Cheetah%20cubs.jpg](http://www.naturegraphics.net/bk335w%20Cheetah%20cubs.jpg) [http://schools-wikipedia.org/images/726/72696.jpg](http://schools-wikipedia.org/images/726/72696.jpg) [http://itn.co.uk/story1049ddd357dadb79b5dd0e9690eecf7c.jpg](http://itn.co.uk/story1049ddd357dadb79b5dd0e9690eecf7c.jpg) [http://www.arkive.org/media/36625EE3-E8E9-44C9-B1F4-0420563677A1/Presentation.Large/ large-Cheetah-cub.jpg](http://www.arkive.org/media/36625EE3-E8E9-44C9-B1F4-0420563677A1/Presentation.Large/%09%09%09%09%09%09%09%09%09%09large-Cheetah-cub.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/16 "2010-01-18T22:33:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Cheetah cubs have manes, but lose them as they mature: Those pictures look more like “fuzzy all over” than specifically on the heads. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/17 "2010-01-18T22:45:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Those pictures look more like “fuzzy all over” than specifically on the heads. It was just an excuse to post pictures of cheetah cubs. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/18 "2010-01-19T03:24:22Z")
Well, yes, that… but the juvenile mane is on the back of the head and down the spine, and is of a different color from the rest of their coat. They’re not nearly as fuzzy elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/19 "2010-01-19T04:30:56Z")
Besides the Cotton-top, the [Golden-headed Tamarin](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef01156eace3b5970c-800wi) and [Golden Lion Tamarin](http://www.czs.org/czs/getattachment/79000fb4-543a-4912-88be-ff246b6e1caf/Golden-Lion-Tamarin.aspx) have manes. So does the [Gelada Baboon.](http://images.travelpod.com/users/jonclark2000/africa-05-06.1162384020.gelada_baboon.jpg) Also the [Francois Langur](http://www.angelo.edu/faculty/kboudrea/lagniappe/pictures_san_antonio_zoo_2/2_Francois's_Langur.JPG) and [Cat Ba Langur.](http://photos.mongabay.com/06/1117Cat_Ba_Langur.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449/20 "2010-01-19T05:34:03Z")
walruses? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-mammals-with-head-manes/525449.md?page=2)