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Many primates advertise their status by applying vivid colours to areas of naked skin, the mandrill being the most colourful of them all. Red plays a special role and is used by several primate males as a symbol of power. This has to do with red being related to testosterone, a hormone making males more combative. So, when a mandrill male gains top rank, he increases both in red colour and testosterone, reflecting his willingness to fight. Gabon.