From 1996, they were divided into two species: the Bornean orangutan (P. pygmaeus, with three subspecies) and the Sumatran orangutan (P. abelii).
Megjithatë, që nga viti 1996, ato ndahen në dy lloje: orangutani i Borneos (P.pygmaeus) dhe orangutani i Sumatrës (p.abelli).