Habitats Of Apes, Gibbons, Chimpanzees, Gorillas and Orang-Utans Apes are very much similar to humans, and both are the... Habitats Of Apes, Gibbons, Chimpanzees, Gorillas and Orang-Utans By: M.Arslan | 11 , Mar 2013 | Mammals Largest Ape In The World Apes are very much similar to humans, and both are the members of the same super family called Hominoid. Apes look like monkeys but they do not have the external tails and they are commonly larger in size. Gibbons, orangutans, gorillas and chimpanzees belong to the family of apes. These different members of apes family have different habitats. Habitats of Gibbons The smallest members in the family of apes are the 12-13 species of gibbons. Because these are smaller in sizes so gibbons are referred as lesser apes. The natural habitats for gibbons are the South East Asian rain forests which are tropical in nature. They are scattered in the forests of China, Malaysia, Philippines and Burma.

Habitats of Orangutans Other habitants of Southeast Asia from the family of apes are most rare and largest apes of this region known as the orangutans. The low-lying swamps in Borneo and the island of Sumatra in Indonesia are the natural habitats of these most intelligent mammals on earth. Habitats of Gorillas Gorillas are the largest apes in the world and are habitants of the African jungle. They live mostly on earth which means they are primarily terrestrial in nature. This largest apes in the world love to live in abandoned lands, swamps, tropical rain forests and low wet lands. Different sub-species of gorillas live in different parts of Africa. Western low-land gorillas live in Cameron, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Similarly, eastern mammals of this species live in Zaire. Habitats of Chimpanzees Another member from the apes family being the habitants of Africa is the chimpanzees. Chimpanzees are very much similar to humans in terms of their mental strength and pleasant behavior. The western lands of Africa are the habitats of Chimpanzees which include woodlands, rain forests and swamps forests.

They are found in almost 21 central and western African countries. Types of Apes Species in The World Gibbons are small long-armed apes... Types of Apes Species in The World By: M.Arslan | 11 , Mar 2013 | Mammals Largest Ape In The World There are four types of apes like Gorillas, Orang-Utas, Chimpanzees and Gibbons. People more often confuse apes with monkeys but they are totally two different species. Apes are way larger than monkeys and unlike monkeys they do not have tails. The most significant difference between apes and monkeys is that apes are far more intelligent than monkeys. These four types of apes are under a threat of extinction as their population has been decreased sharply because of the destruction of their natural habitats. Read the names, habits, characteristics and living places of apes. Gorillas Gorillas are the largest of the great apes. There are two types of species of gorilla eastern gorilla and western gorilla. They are gentle creatures living in family groups led by a big male, the silverback. When they are old enough to breed, young females leave and join another group.

Young males also leave, and may wander alone for years before forming a new group. They are found in different parts of Africa like Angola, Burundi (reports suggest that they have possibly extinct), Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda. Western Gorillas are further classifies into two types western lowland gorillas and cross river gorillas. The western lowland gorilla estimated population is about 94,500 whereas river side gorillas are Africas most endangered great apes; there are only 200 river side gorillas left. The population size of eastern mountain gorillas is 700 and of eastern lowland gorillas is estimated to be between 2000-16,900. The eastern lowland gorillas have received most extreme population reductions with an estimated 70% decline since 1994. Orang-Utas The word orang-utans means wild man of the woods. Orangs live in forests of the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Unlike the other great apes they live mostly alone.

Although they rarely meet, each orang knows its neighbors, for they live in territories which overlap to some extent. They also eat other sorts of fruit and some leaves and insects. The population estimate of Sumatran orangutans is about 6600-7300 while in Borneo they are round about 45,000 to 69,000. The population of both orangutan declined 50% to 80% in past 80 years. Bornean orangutan is in IUCN RedList for being endangered while they declared Sumatran orangutans as critically endangered. Chimpanzees Chimpanzeesdislike being alone. Small groups travel together through the African forests looking for the fruit and leaves which are their main food. They may also eat insects and grubs, and even hunt young antelopes or monkeys. Chimpanzee language includes at least 24 sounds each with its special meaning.

In the wild the estimate of the total number of chimpanzee ranges from 100,000-300,000.Eastern chimpanzees are estimated to be around 76,400-119,600. The population of western chimpanzee lies in the range of 21,300-55,600. The number of central chimpanzees is 70,000 to 116,500. Nigerian chimpanzee is most endangered chimpanzees. There are only about 500-700 species left of chimpanzee. In general all populations of chimpanzees are in severe decline. Gibbon (Hylobatidae) - Animals - A-Z Animals Map of Asia Gibbon The gibbon is a small sized ape, found inhabiting the dense jungles and tropical rainforests across south-east Asia . Gibbons belong to the lesser ape family which are closely related to the great apes (chimpanzees, orang-utans , bonobos , gorillas and humans).

Gibbons are small and lightweight monkeys that grow to around 90cm tall and weigh just 7kg. The lightweight body of the gibbons means that the gibbon is able to move around in and leap between the trees. Gibbons are arboreal animals which means that they spend the majority of their lives in the trees. Living in the trees has it's advantages for the gibbon as the gibbon has plenty of food and is also a safe distance above ground from predators. There are more than 10 different species of gibbon living in the trees from northern India and the islands of Indonesia . All the gibbon species are fairly similar in shape and size , but the different species of gibbon differ most in their colours which range from grey, to brown, to black. Some species of gibbon are identified by the white markings on their faces. Gibbons have very long arms which are often longer than the gibbon's legs. Gibbons use their arms to help them to move around in the trees and to balance whilst they are walking along branches.

Gibbons are known to be the fastest, non-flying tree dwelling mammals in the world as they can move at speeds of up to 35mph and are able to swing themselves 15 meters from tree to tree. Gibbons are also incredible at leaping and can leap long distances of up to 8 meters. Like all other species of ape, gibbons do not have a tail. Gibbons are omnivorous animals meaning that they eat a mixture of both plant and animal matter. The main food of the gibbon is ripe fruit which grow around them in the trees, and makes up around three quarters of the gibbon's diet . Gibbons also prey on insects , eggs, spiders and small birds and reptiles. Due to their tree-dwelling nature, gibbons have few natural predators in their environment apart from those that can also get up the tall trees. Leopards , large snakes and birds of prey are the main predators of the gibbon. Gibbons live in groups , known as troops which consists of the alpha male and female, and their offspring.

Gibbons mates usually stay together for life and the female gibbon gives birth to a single baby gibbon after a gestation period of around 7 months. The male gibbon and the female gibbon look after the baby gibbon until it is about a year old, but the baby gibbon usually stays close to it's mother until it is older (between 6 and 7) and is able to start a family of it's own. Nearly all of the different species of gibbon are today considered to be either threatened or extinction mainly due to deforestation and habitat loss. Share This Article Orangutan | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants SPECIES: abelli (Sumatran orangutan); pygmaeus (Bornean orangutan) ABOUT Red apes of the forest: Orangutans, whose name means “people of the forest,” live in tropical and swamp forests on the Southeast Asian islands of Borneo and Sumatra. These shaggy red apes are the largest arboreal mammal and the only great ape found in Asia. The other great apes—gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos—are all native to Africa.

Long, flowing, reddish hair covers most of an orangutan’s gray skin. Its stocky body has a flexible pelvis, a thick neck, and bowed legs. The orangutan's arms are longer than its legs, reaching nearly to its ankles when the ape stands up. Like other apes, orangutans don't have a tail. Orangutans spend most of their life in the trees, swinging confidently from branch to branch. Their long fingers and toes can easily grasp branches and vines. With arms longer than their body and long, strong fingers and prehensile feet, life in the trees works well for them. In fact, orangutans look a bit awkward on the ground, using their arms as we might use a pair of crutches or lifting those arms high above their head when they walk. Adult male orangutans are much larger than the adult females. There are some differences between the two orangutan species: Male Sumatran orangutan Sumatran orangutan: Lives on Sumatra. The hair is longer and lighter-colored than the Bornean species.

The adult male’s cheek pads, called flanges, form rigid half circles on the sides of his face and both males and females usually develop beards as they age. Male Bornean orangutan Bornean orangutan: Lives on Borneo. Adult males have much larger flanges and a large throat pouch. The hair is shinier and the females rarely have any beard at all. Bornean orangutans are more heavy-set than the Sumatran species. Within both species, there are two morphs of mature male orangutans, and it’s easy to tell them apart. A cheek-padded or flanged male has big, fleshy cheek pads on the sides of his face and a large throat sac under his chin. He’s more likely to have facial hair, and the hair on his back grows long. Non-cheek-padded or unflanged males don’t have these traits. They are usually smaller than cheek-padded males. Both flanged and unflanged males are able to father offspring. Orangutans are the loners and the daydreamers of the great apes.

While the other great ape species are usually found in groups socializing, foraging, or playing, orangutans tend to be more solitary and seem to have a more internal approach to everything. While other great apes might go from tree to tree searching for fruit, an orangutan just sits in the forest canopy for hours on end until the location of the hidden fruit seems to mysteriously reveal itself and the animal swings over for its meal. Scientists like to explain the orangutan’s unique approach to problem solving with this example: If a chimpanzee is given an oddly shaped peg and several different holes to try to put it in, the chimpanzee immediately tries shoving the peg in various holes until it finds the correct hole. But an orangutan approaches the challenge quite differently. It may stare off into space or even scratch itself with the peg. Then, after a while, it offhandedly sticks the peg into the correct hole while looking at something else that has caught its interest! HABITAT AND DIET Orangutans spend most of their lives in trees and travel by swinging from branch to branch with their long arms. They usually build a new nest every night, but may occasionally reuse one.

The apes also use leafy branches to shelter themselves from rain and sun, and sometimes they drape large leaves over themselves like a poncho! Sumatran orangutans, especially younger ones, have to worry about tigers, as well as other predators such as clouded leopards, large pythons, and crocodiles. To stay safe, they tend to spend more time in the trees than Bornean orangutans, which don’t have those predators on their island so can safely spend more time on the ground. Orangutans eat lots of ripe fruits—up to 100 kinds. Figs, along with fruit of the durian tree, are most common. When fruits are scarce, they eat leaves, flowers, bark, honey, termites, ants and other insects, and even bird eggs. Their mornings and afternoons are spent foraging for these food items, with naptime during the midday’s heat. Sometimes several mothers and their young encounter each other by a fruit tree within their overlapping ranges. They peacefully feed together and watch their youngsters play. Adult males, however, generally don’t care for company—especially with other males.

Although the apes get lots of water from the fruits and other vegetation they eat, they drink water, too. They lick water from tree hollows, wet plants, and even from the fur on their arms. At the San Diego Zoo, the orangutans are offered cabbage, romaine lettuce, kale, carrots, yams, broccoli, bananas, apples, oranges, and grapes. Treats might include papaya, corn, turnip, onion, popcorn, raisins, peanut butter, and walnuts. The orangutan's motto is: food should never be boring! FAMILY LIFE Orangutans have large home ranges, which may overlap. Each adult female usually lives in a stable home range of about 3.5 square miles (9 square kilometers). An adult male’s territory may be up to 15 square miles (39 square kilometers). A male’s range may overlap with the home ranges of several females. Males tend to be more nomadic, visiting female ranges as needed. If a male accidentally swings into a territory occupied by a more dominant male, the dominant male gives a booming roar called a “long call” to scare off the intruder.

The male orangutans’ calls also serve as an invitation to any available females within hearing distance. The females seem to be impressed by a male orangutan’s cheek pads, but the pads have another purpose. When males are fighting, they charge at each other and break branches. If that doesn’t scare one of them away, they grab and bite each other on the cheek pads or ears until one of them gives up and runs away! All other apes and monkeys live in social groups, but orangutans are a little different. Experts used to think they were solitary, but recent studies tell us more. On Sumatra, small groups or pairs of adolescents, a few adult females, or even a small group of non-cheek-padded males may travel together for a few days at a time. Sometimes several mothers and their young feed peacefully together while their youngsters play. On both islands, cheek-padded males don’t care for company. They compete for mates and territory, and they don’t tolerate each other. These guys remain alone unless breeding with a female or fighting with another male. Orangutans have the slowest breeding rate of all mammals. They reproduce only every seven or eight years, the longest interval of all land mammals.

Orangutan females usually have their first baby at age 12 to 15, which is late compared to other mammals. Males don’t reach maturity until they are about 15 years old. Newborns have pink faces that change to dark brown or black as they age, and look adorable, with tufts of hair that stand straight up. For its first few weeks of life, the baby holds tight to its mother’s belly as she swings through the forest in search of fruit. When it is older and better at balancing, the youngster rides "piggyback," so it can see what’s going on. Like most mammal offspring, young orangutans are much more active than their parents. They are also more social and enjoy interacting and playing with other orangutan youngsters. A four- to five-year-old orangutan moves around independently of mother but doesn’t go far, because it’s still nursing. Young orangutans may nurse for up to seven years. Orangutan youngsters stay with their mothers until they’re seven or eight years old and fully weaned, the longest childhood of the great apes. They must learn all the lessons of finding fruit, building night nests, and other survival techniques before they set off on their own.

Fruit trees are spread out over the rain forests where orangutans live, flowering and fruiting at different times. The youngsters learn a mental map of the forest layout and where ripe fruit is likely to be at any given time. Researchers have identified at least 32 orangutan vocalizations. The “kiss-squeak” expresses excitement or fear. A “grumph” sounds like a belch and is a sign of disturbance or annoyance. Mothers warn their babies to stay close by making a soft, scraping sound. Orangutans communicate play, submission, aggression, fear, and worry through touch, facial expressions, and gestures. AT THE ZOO Ever-fascinating orangutans have been delighting San Diego Zoo guests since 1928. Over the years, we’ve had both Bornean and Sumatran orangutans and have celebrated 30 births at our facility. Orangutans are known for their clever ability to get into places they’re not supposed to go! One of the Zoo’s most famous orangutans was Ken Allen, a Bornean orangutan known for his creative escape techniques.

He would unscrew bolts with his fingers, reach around to unlatch things, climb up a steep incline by the back of his enclosure to slip over a wall, and so on. Every time keepers figured out one of his escape routes, he would discover a new one. He never seemed to mind being led back into his enclosure—he just seemed to enjoy the challenge of finding a new way out! Ken Allen became a San Diego Zoo legend, with his own fan club and T-shirts, bumper stickers, and songs created in his honor. Many people were saddened when this gentle, mischievous ape developed cancer and passed away in December 2000. Today, our orangutans share their exhibit with playful siamangs, the largest of the gibbons, which inhabit the same forest of Indonesia and Malaysia as the orangutans. Their exhibit includes climbing structures that are joined by ropes and cargo nets, a man-made “termite mound” that is often filled with tasty treats for the orangutans to retrieve, rocky caves, and vertical “sway poles,” which are sturdy poles that gently bend like tree branches and help create aerial pathways through the exhibit, and provide entertainment for both apes and Zoo visitors who come to watch their antics.

Some of the orangutans stay right up close to the exhibit glass, observing their human visitors and interacting with them any way they can. They might want to show off their newest enrichment item, such as a burlap sack that can be worn quite smartly as a shawl, or they might want to just look at you as enrichment! Our current group of orangutans includes adult male Satu and females Indah, Karen, and our newest member, Aisha, who was born on October 25, 2013. The only member of the group to be hand-raised as an infant, spunky Karen survived a widely publicized open-heart surgery in 1994. Karen has a LOT of personality and is a guest favorite. She can be stubborn and willful, but keepers love her, too! Look for Karen: she likes to roll around on the ground and twirl around on the sway poles. CONSERVATION Most of the orangutan's forest habitat has been destroyed to make palm oil plantations; and unfortunately, these highly intelligent red apes are now extinct in much of Asia. On top of that, poachers often kill orangutan mothers and sell their young to the illegal pet trade.

In those cases, the orangutan orphan is usually doomed to a short and depressing life, unless it is rescued by an orangutan organization that takes care of orphans in special reserves. Many of these organizations have programs to educate loggers and local people about the need to protect their rare red neighbors and to help enforce the laws against poaching. Indonesia is the top supplier of wood products and paper pulp in the world, and at least 70 percent is illegally logged. The world operates on the law of supply and demand, so we need to lessen the demand and carefully manage the supply. Conserve and recycle: we hear this often, but it really is an important part of the answer for helping wild orangutans. San Diego Zoo Global is working to raise awareness of the dangers all great apes face. We provide financial funding and support various conservation projects via the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s Ape Taxon Advisory Group’s Conservation Initiative. Studies identifying levels of genetic variation between the two orangutan species have provided information that can be used for habitat conservation efforts.

Comparing the genomes of five Bornean and five Sumatran orangutans with DNA provided from our Frozen Zoo® identified that both species have high levels of genetic diversity but contrasting histories of population growth and decline. Previous studies conducted by our geneticists identified chromosomal differences between Bornean and Sumatran orangutans. This information helps build the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s Species Survival Plan programs for these apes. San Diego Zoo Global is also a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which was started to promote a sustainable palm oil industry to limit the destruction of rain forests. Look for products that are RSPO-designated as containing certified sustainable palm oil. You can help us bring orangutans back from the brink by supporting the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy . Together we can save and protect wildlife around the globe. Sounds Apes - Hominoidea - The Animal Encyclopedia By Laura Klappenbach Updated August 09, 2016. Apes (Hominoidea) are a group of primates that includes 22 species. Apes, also referred to as hominoids, include chimpanzees, gorillas , orangutans and gibbons.

Although humans are classified within the Hominoidea, the term ape is not applied to humans and refers instead to all non-human hominoids. In fact, the term ape has a history of ambiguity. At one time it was used to refer to any tail-less primate which included two species of macaques (neither of which belong to the hominoidea). Two subcategories of apes are also commonly identified, great apes (which includes chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans) and the lesser apes (gibbons). Most hominoids, with the exception of humans and gorillas, are skilled and agile tree climbers. Gibbons are the most skilled tree-dwellers of all hominoids. They can swing and leap from branch to branch, moving quickly and efficiency through the trees. This mode of locomotion used by gibbons is referred to as brachiation. continue reading below our video 10 Best Universities in the United States Compared to other primates, hominoids have a lower center of gravity, a shortened spine relative to their body length, a broad pelvis and wide chest. Their general physique gives them a more upright posture than other primates.

Their shoulder blades lie on their back, an arrangement that imparts a wide range of motion. Hominoids also lack a tail. Together these characteristics give hominoids better balance than their closest living relatives, the Old World monkeys. Hominoids are therefore more stable when standing on two feet or when swinging and hanging from tree branches. Like most primates, hominoids form social groups, the structure of which varies from species to species. Lesser apes form monogamous pairs while gorillas live in troops numbering in the range of 5 to 10 or more individuals. Chimpanzees also form troops that can number as many as 40 to 100 individuals. Orangutans are the exception to the primate social norm, they lead solitary lives. Hominoids are highly intelligent and capable problem solvers. Chimpanzees and orangutans make and use simple tools. Scientists studying orangutans in captivity have shown the capable of using sign language, solving puzzles and recognizing symbols. Many species of hominoids are under threat of habitat destruction , poaching, and hunting for bushmeat and skins. Both species of chimpanzees are endangered.

The eastern gorilla is endangered and the western gorilla is critically endangered. Eleven of sixteen species of gibbons are endangered or critically endangered. The diet of hominoids includes leaves, seeds, nuts, fruit and a limited amount of animal prey. Apes inhabit tropical rainforests throughout parts of western and central Africa as well as Southeast Asia. Orangutans are found only in Asia, chimpanzees inhabit west and central Africa, gorillas inhabit central Africa, and gibbons inhabit southeast Asia. Classification Animals > Chordates > Vertebrates > Tetrapods > Amniotes > Mammals > Primates > Apes The term ape refers to a group of primates that includes chimpanzees, gorillas , orangutans and gibbons. The scientific name Hominoidea refers to apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and gibbons) as well as humans (that is, it ignores the fact that humans prefer not to label ourselves as apes). Of all hominoids, the gibbons are the most diverse with 16 species.

The other hominoid groups are less diverse and include chimpanzees (2 species), gorillas (2 species), orangutans (2 species) and humans (1 species). The hominoid fossil record is incomplete, but scientists estimate that ancient hominoids diverged from Old World monkeys between 29 and 34 million years ago. The first modern hominoids appeared about 25 million years ago. Gibbons were the first group to split from the other groups, about 18 million years ago, followed by the orangutan lineage (about 14 million years ago), the gorillas (about 7 million years ago). The most recent split that has occurred is that between humans and chimpanzees, about 5 million years go. The closest living relatives to the hominoids are the Old World monkeys. The Primates: Apes , and bonobos ) Gibbons and orangutans live in Southeast Asia, while gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos are exclusively African apes. Humans originated in Africa as well.

Current n atural range of the apes Asian Apes Gibbon The smallest and the most arboreal apes are the 12-13 species of gibbons. Because of their diminutive size, these members of the family Hylobatidae are also referred to as the "lesser apes." Most adult gibbons are only about 3 feet (90 cm.) tall standing upright and 12-20 pounds (5.5-9 kg.) in weight. Males in the biggest gibbon species, known as siamangs , are up to 30 pounds (13.5 kg.). Siamangs are different enough from other gibbons to be in their own genus. All gibbons are very slender. Long bushy hair on their bodies makes them look stockier than they actually are. Gibbons have little sexual dimorphism in body size, with the exception of siamangs. However, the sexual dimorphism of siamangs is slight compared to that of the great apes. Siamang brachiating Gibbons are excellent brachiators . That is, they move around in trees by swinging under branches with a hand over hand motion.

This is also referred to as suspensory climbing. At times, gibbons walk bipedally, or two footed, on top of branches. However, they are more efficient at brachiation, and 90% of their locomotion is by this means. Gibbons have long arms with sturdy rotary cup shoulder joints, comparatively short legs, permanently curved fingers, and light weight bodies. The rotary cup joints allow them to easily raise their arms straight up above their heads. They also allow gibbons to swing long distances from branch to branch with little effort. Each swing can transport a gibbon 20 feet (6 m.) at speeds approaching 35 miles (56 km.) an hour. Their upper torsos are flattened from front to back and their shoulders are far apart, giving them a mechanical advantage in thrusting each arm forward in turn. Brachiation is a rare ability for primates. None of the prosimians do it. Among the monkeys, only a few New World species have the capability, and they don't use it as frequently as the gibbons.

All of the great apes have the anatomical characteristics that allow brachiation, but most of them rarely use this mode of locomotion because they are too heavy to be supported by small branches. Humans also have retained most of the upper body traits that allow us to brachiate, though our legs grew significantly longer and more muscular as we became habitually bipedal. As a consequence of weakened arm muscles and added weight from our legs, we now are inefficient brachiators at best. However, our small children are still light enough to enjoy swinging on playground "monkey bars". One other anatomical feature sets the gibbons apart from the other apes. They have ischial callosities like many of the Old World monkeys. No great ape has them. Gibbons are monogamous in their mating patterns and form nuclear family groups. That is to say, their communities consist of a single mated pair of adults with their juvenile offspring. They live in well defined territories in the tree tops and rarely go down to the forest floor. Adults regularly defend their territory against others of their species with piercingly loud whooping and hooting vocalizations, much like the indris of Madagascar and the howler monkeys of the New World.

However, the calls of the latter two primates sound very different. The calls of different gibbon species are easily distinguished from each other as well. When they are vocalizing, the front of the necks of gibbons and siamangs expand with air, much like the flexible bag on a bagpipe. Siamang neck recording by Dennis O'Neil (length = 57 secs.) Orangutans are the largest and the rarest of the Asian apes. Males often grow to 175-200 pounds (80-90 kg.) and 4� feet (1.4 m.) tall. At this size, they are usually too large to cross from one tree to another by the branches and must go down to the ground and walk quadrupedally between them. There is marked sexual dimorphism among the orangutans. Males have huge fleshy pads framing the upper part of their faces. In addition, females weigh only about half as much as the males (73-99 lbs or 33-45 kg.).

Being lighter, females and juveniles often stay in the trees and use a leaning form of brachiation--they carefully shift their body weight to bend a supporting branch and then grab the next one before the first one breaks. Orangutans have largely hairless faces, but the rest of their bodies are covered with long reddish brown hair. The body hair of adult males becomes so long and intertwined that it appears almost to be in unkempt "dreadlocks". child "fishing out" food from a rock crevice with a stick Orangutans are intelligent and generally peaceful vegetarians. Most of the time, they live solitary lives quietly browsing fruits and leaves high up in trees. They are nearly as intelligent as the African apes, but have much more introverted personalities. Unfortunately, the orangutans are in danger of extinction in the wild because they are hunted for the illegal international pet trade. Their forest territories are also being rapidly cut down for the lumber and cleared by burning for farming, especially in Indonesia where most of them live. Conservation International estimates that the 15,000 remaining Indonesian orangutans are currently disappearing at a rate of 1,000 per year.

When population size shrinks, there is a corresponding decrease in genetic diversity. Species that have little genetic diversity are more easily driven to extinction by a changing environment. The loss of habitat has decimated gibbons in Indonesia as well. However, they are not at as much a risk of becoming extinct because their range extends widely over Southeast Asia. Kalimantan's Orangutans --video clip from National Geographic Society (length = 2 mins. 18 secs.) African Apes Male lowland gorilla The largest apes are the gorillas of Africa. Adult males are 5�- 6 feet (1.7-1.8 m.) tall and have 9-10 foot (2.7-3.0 m.) arm spans. They have massive heads with heavy, thick muscles on top that are used to close crushing jaws. Their bodies are stout and very muscular. (subadult male lowland gorilla) Like humans, gorillas are terrestrial animals. They are quadrupedal knuckle walkers. That is, they walk on the soles of their feet but not on the palms of their hands. They bend their fingers and support the upper end of their bodies with their knuckles instead of their open palms.

They are shy, peaceful vegetarians who usually flee from humans and rarely fight even among themselves. They live in family groups consisting of a dominant adult male with several adult female mates and their children. These groups grow over time to 20 or more individuals. Subadult males are tolerated in the family as long as they are not actively competing with the dominant male for mates. Gorillas are highly sexually dimorphic. Adult males average about 350 pounds (160 kg.) and reach 400 pounds (181 kg.) in the wild, while most adult females are only about 155 pounds (70 kg.) and much less muscular. There are three varieties, or subspecies, of gorillas. The rare mountain gorilla variety lives at high altitude in sparse woodlands in the mountains of Central Africa. As of 2011, there were only 786 of them still alive. The more numerous lowland gorilla varieties live in the dense forests of West Africa. Most zoo gorillas are of the lowland varieties. grooming (common chimpanzees) The common chimpanzees more closely resemble humans than do the gorillas.

Male chimps grow to 5� feet (1.7 m.) tall and average about 100 pounds (45 kg.) with 6 foot (1.8 m.) arm spans, while females are usually only around 82 lbs. (37 kg.) and are less muscular. Chimpanzees are comfortable walking quadrupedally on the ground in addition to climbing in trees. They are knuckle walkers like gorillas. The natural habitat of chimpanzees includes both tropical forests and bordering savannas in Africa. Chimps are intelligent animals with generally pleasant personalities. However, the males are less peaceful than the smaller females. This behavior difference is typical of most primate species, including humans. The chimpanzee diet is usually at least 90% vegetarian. Males are more likely to eat meat than are females, although chimp hunting skills are relatively poor. Chimpanzees hunting in trees --video clip from National Geographic Society (length = 2 mins. 2 secs.) Chimpanzees live in fluid societies of 10-50 individuals without monogamous mating bonds. Membership changes through time as females move from one community to another apparently seeking new mates.

In contrast, males usually stay together in their natal community throughout their lives and act as a group in defending the food resources of their territory against incursions by other chimpanzee communities. These interactions can be quite noisy, violent, and sometimes fatal. Bonobos are close relatives of common chimpanzees in the same genus, Pan . Their similarity is due to the fact that they had a common ancestor only about two million years ago. Bonobos are sometimes referred to as pygmy chimpanzees. Despite this name, they are only slightly smaller than the common chimps. Bonobos usually have blacker hair with tufts at the side of their faces, longer arms and legs, as well as slimmer bodies. Their high pitched vocalizations are also quite different from those of the common chimpanzees. Like many of the Old World monkey species, adult female bonobos normally have prominent "sexual skins." However, unlike monkeys, bonobo females are sexually receptive throughout the year. Bonobo female sexual skin Bonobos have fluid social groupings similar to the common chimpanzees, although bonobos are less excitable and aggressive. Male-female alliances also are more important for bonobos.

Older females at times even become group leaders. Bonobos are unique among nonhuman primates in primarily engaging in sexual intercourse face to face. Gorillas do it occasionally. Both heterosexual and homosexual intercourse are common among bonobos. Copulation occurs frequently as a means of reducing tension in the community and has become recreational for them. In this and other traits, bonobos are quite similar to humans. Today, the bonobo range is limited to the forests south of the Zaire River in West Central Africa, and there are considerably fewer of them than the common chimpanzees. Chimps and Bonobos --an explanation of how they became different species This link takes you to a video at an external website. To return here, you must click the "back" button on your browser program. (length = 3 mins, 47 secs) Primates At Risk Common chimpanzees are the most successful of all apes in that there are more of them and they have the widest geographic range. However, their numbers have been significantly reduced. A century ago, there were millions of them in the wild. Today, there are less than 200,000.

This sharp decline apparently has been mostly due to the rapid increase in human populations and the accompanying natural habitat decimation. An additional factor has been the desire of many people in West and Central Africa to eat chimpanzees and other non-human primate species. At least 4,000 chimpanzees are killed for their meat every year. Most apes and monkeys are relatively large, noisy animals that are easy targets for hunters. Chimpanzees and gorillas have suffered devastating Ebola epidemics as well. During 2002 and 2003, approximately 5,000 gorillas succumbed to this highly contagious, almost always fatal disease. The lowland gorilla population has dropped by at least 80% over the last 3 generations. Only 100,000-125,000 survive today. The bonobos are at an even greater risk of disappearing since there may be only about 6,000 of them remaining in the wild. The African apes have the misfortune of living mostly in nations in which wildlife protection has been severely disrupted by civil wars and the breakdown of effective national authority over the last two decades.

It is unlikely that the populations of these apes would be able to spring back rapidly even if they were more carefully protected because they have low reproductive rates. Under the best conditions, adult female chimps usually only have one baby every 5 years. The other great apes are similar. The great apes are not alone in being threatened by humans. The International Primatological Congress has estimated that 48% of primate species are in danger of extinction within the next decade. Many will disappear with little known about them. They are at their greatest risk in Asia. The percentage of threatened primate species is 79% in China, 83% in Laos, 84% in Indonesia, 86% in Vietnam, and 90% in Cambodia. In most parts of the world, the main threat is loss of habitat due to forest clearance. However, conservation efforts have had some successes in Brazil. The numbers of Golden lion tamarins and black lion tamarins there have been increasing to the point that these species are no longer considered critically endangered.

Also on the hopeful side is the recent discovery of approximately 125,000 western lowland gorillas in a largely unexplored forest region of northern Democratic Republic of Congo. Impacts on this area by humans have been minimal so far. Other Primates of Borneo & Sumatra Other Primates of Borneo & Sumatra Print Email Other Primates of Borneo & Sumatra The islands of Borneo and Sumatra are two of the most biodiverse areas on earth, known for their extraordinarily rich flora and fauna. Although much of the recent international attention has focused on the islands’ wild orangutans, the forests of Indonesia in fact contain over 10% of the world’s flowering plants, 16% of the world’s reptiles and amphibians, 17% of the world’s birds and 12% of the world’s mammal species (Wakker, 2004). Among these are over 20 species of primate. OURF has always believed that the key to protecting orangutans is protecting their rainforest home, and ensuring that the remaining rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra remain as intact and inviolate as possible.

But protecting orangutans is also important for the very future of that rainforest. Due to their ecological role as seed dispersers and the part they play in breaking up the dense rainforest canopy, studies have shown that rainforests with orangutans present, at their normal densities, can expect the presence of at least 5 other species of primate and hornbill, 50 different species of fruiting tree, and 15 species of liana (Rijksen & Meijaard, 1999). Some of the primate species found are some of the most extraordinary on earth. Gibbons Like orangutans, gibbons are apes, but, unlike orangutans, they are considered lesser apes, on account of their smaller body size.

There are two species found in Sumatra, the white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar vestitus) and the agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis), and two species found in Borneo, Muller’s Bornean gibbon (Hylobates muelleri) and the Borean white-bearded gibbon (Hylobates albibarbis), although it must be noted that some scientists consider the latter gibbon merely a sub-species of the agile gibbon. Gibbons are the least known about and least studied of all the apes, and long term field studies have been hampered by the gibbons’ almost wholly arboreal lifestyle. Unlike orangutans, gibbons are incredibly fast movers, and swing through the canopy using only their arms, a form of locomotion known as brachiation. Living in tropical rainforests, they feed chiefly on ripe fruit, which makes up at least 58% of their diet (Bartlett, 2007), which they supplement with leaves, flowers and insects.

Their small body size, a head and body length of between 18-22 inches and a weight of 4.5-7kg, means gibbons can reach the ends of branches, exploiting food sources more large bodied arboreal animals cannot (Redmond, 2008). The fur colour and physical appearance of gibbons varies from species to species, and there is also often variation between members of the same species and between sexes. However, gibbons are unusual amongst apes for the low level of sexual dimorphism shown, with males and females being around the same size, and often hard to distinguish. Gibbons are born after a gestation period of 7 months, and reach sexual maturity between the ages of 6-9 years, when they form monogamous pairings with a member of the opposite sex, which lasts for the remainder of their lives, occupying a home range of around 40 hectares (Redmond, 2008), although this varies depending on species and the presence of other species of primate (Bartlett, 2007). Territories are defended aggressively.

The interval between births is usually two to four years, so most gibbon groups will consist of no more than two adults and two or three young, adolescents leaving the family group upon maturity. Unlike other apes, gibbons do not make nests, either for day or night rest, instead sleeping while sitting on bare branches. To aid this adaptation, have thick, hard pads on their lower back, called ischial tuberosities (Bartlett, 2007). Gibbons are also known for their distinctive vocalizations, which are believed to be used as a spacing mechanism, to defend territories and to attract mates, and their haunting melodies, usually sung in unison, are one of the most beautiful sounds in South East Asian rainforests. Siamang The Siamang is a type of gibbon, but is classified in its own genus, as Symphalangus syndactylus.

Found in Sumatra, siamangs are around twice the size of other gibbons, reaching around 40 inches in height and weighing up to 15kg, and are distinguishable by their long, shaggy black fur, and the large air sac, known as a gular sac, which sits under the throat of both males and females, and can be inflated to the size of their head, allowing them to make loud, resonating calls and songs. The life history and adaptation of the siamang is similar to those of other gibbons, but these primates generally have smaller day ranges, and, unusually, male siamangs play a much more active role in the raising of the young than do members of the other gibbon species. Like all apes, they are long lived, and wild gibbons and siamangs may live until they are 30-40 years old. Like orangutans, siamangs and gibbons are threatened by habitat loss and the pet trade, particularly for use as tourist attractions on the Asian mainland.

Proboscis Monkey It would be hard to find a more unusually primate than the proboscis monkey, or the Dutch monkey, as it is known throughout Indonesia, on account of its alleged resemblance to the Dutch officials widespread throughout the country during the period of colonization. The proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is endemic to the island of Borneo, and lives in waterside forests, either coastal nipa palm, mangrove swamp, lowland riverine or peat swamp forests, and never at elevations higher than 800 ft (Redmond, 2008). The body of the proboscis monkey is a reddish brown, with white-grey legs, belly, tail and rump. Juveniles are born with a blue face, which becomes pink at the age of three. Males of this species have a large, protruding nose, which can reach up to 7 inches long, and is believed to be used to attract females and to act as a resonating chamber to enhance vocalizations. Females also have large noses, although these are generally smaller than males, and are upturned.

They have a head and body length of between 24-30 inches, and males can weigh up to 20kg (Redmond, 2008). Unusually, males of this species have permanently erect penises, a peculiar trait that still baffles scientists. The digestive system of the proboscis monkey is divided in to compartments, with bacteria that neutralizes the toxins of certain leaves, and, as such, leaves make up the majority of their diet, with fruit and seeds also consumed (Nowak, 1999). Their diet has left them with a large pot belly, which weighs about a quarter of their whole body weight. These monkeys live in a harem of one adult male, several females and their offspring, groups that can be as large as 23 animals. Proboscis monkeys are not territorial and may meet up with other groups, to feed or travel together, and they often sleep in neighbouring trees. They are extremely proficient swimmers, and will often swim across rivers to reach the opposite bank, one member of the group jumping in first to test the water.

Young are born after a gestation period of 5 months, and sexual maturity for females is reached at 3-5 years, with males reaching maturity at 5-7 years. Widespread forest conversion has seen these primates placed on the IUCN endangered list, but it is hoped their increasing popularity with tourists, and the ease with which they can be spotted from boats, could lead to more concerted conservation efforts. Macaques Of all the primates, macaques almost certainly have the worst reputation, being considered a pest throughout much of their range, which is the widest of any non-human primate. But their pest-like status is simply a result of their extraordinary resilience and adaptability, and their ability to thrive in almost any environment. There are two species of macaque found in both Borneo and Sumatra, the pig tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) and the long tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis), which are found throughout primary and secondary forest, coastal mangroves, swamp and riverine forest, and even some urban situations (Nowak, 1999).

Pig tailed macaques have olive brown fur over their bodies, with white undersides and a black patch on top of their heads, with males of this sexually dimorphic species having a head and body length of 19.4 to 22.2 inches, and weighing 6.2-14.5kg. Females are considerably smaller, weighing between 4.7 & 10.9kg. Long tailed macaques are the smaller species, with males weighing between 4.7-8.3kg. They are grayish in colour, and have hair that sweeps back over their forehead, creating a rather cute looking crest of hair above their heads. Both species of primates are named after their distinctive tails. Both species of macaque are largely frugivorous, and also eat insects, seeds, young leaves, leaf stems, dirt and fungus, with long tailed macaques known to feed on crabs, frogs, shrimp and octopus when foraging in coastal mangroves.

Like all other species of macaque, they live in large social groups, sometimes as strong as 100 individuals, which break in to smaller groups for foraging, and social groups for both of these species are multi-male but female dominated. Although not considered endangered, macaques are the focus of increasing animal welfare efforts, as they are the most common primates used for invasive medical research. Leaf monkeys, Langurs and Surilis Langur means ‘having a long tail’ in Hindi, and almost all species of langur monkey, and their relatives the leaf monkeys and surilis, live up to this name, having long, slender tails often longer than their bodies. The langurs, leaf monkeys and surilis are divided in to three separate genus groups, and there are up to 9 separate species on both Borneo and Sumatra. The life histories and appearance of leaf monkeys, langurs and surilis differ from genus to genus and species to species, but the species found in Borneo and Sumatra are diurnal, arboreal tropical rainforest dwellers, and feed on leaves, seeds, fruit, shoots, flowers, bark, stems and fungi.

Two species of monkey in Borneo, Hose’s langur (Presbytis hosei) and the red leaf monkey (Presbytis rubicunda), have been seen occasionally descending to the forest floor to visit natural mineral sources, and have a daily foraging range of around 500-800 metres (Nowak, 1999). In Sumatra, Thomas’s langur also descends to the floor to feed on mature rubber seeds and durian fruits. The head and body length of these monkeys is between 16-33 inches, and they weigh between 5-8.1kg (Redmond, 2008; Nowak, 1999). They have a gestation period of around 6 months, and are believed to reach sexual maturity after a few years. The species found on Borneo and Sumatra usually live in groups consisting a single male and one or two adult females, although in some species, such as Thomas’s langur, groups with two adult males have been observed.

Lone males and small all male units have been observed, as juvenile males disperse from their natal group on sexual maturity (Nowak, 1999), as have monogamous pairings (Kirkpatrick, 2007). Although relatively little is known about the various species of langur monkeys, leaf monkeys and surilis in Borneo and Sumatra, all are threatened by deforestation, forest conversion and hunting, and there is a danger they may become extinct before the full complexity of their social systems is known. Slow loris With their large, forward facing eyes, small wooly bodies and tightly clinging hands and feet, with their human like nails, slow lorises are among the most unusual looking primates. In fact, so beguiling were these creatures to Dutch officials, their popular western name derives from the Dutch word for clown, ‘loerus’. Highly prized as pets throughout their range, slow lorises are, along with the tarsier, the oldest and most primitive primates found in Borneo and Sumatra.

The taxonomic status of the slow lorises has long been a source of confusion, hampered by the scarcity of wild loris studies, but there are now believed to be two separate species inhabiting the forests of Borneo and Sumatra. The Bornean slow loris (Nycticebus menagensis) is found on the island of Borneo, and the greater slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) is found on the island of Sumatra, with both species inhabiting primary and secondary forest, wooded savannas and even plantations (Redmond, 2008). It was originally thought that there were just two species of loris found on these islands, but in late 2012, authors discovered that Bornean slow lorises had different facemask patterns depending on their geographical location, and that these facemasks, particularly the amount of white on the face, are sufficiently different to indicate different species; hence, as well as N. managensis, N. bancanus, N. borneanus and N. kayan are now recognised as different species of Bornean slow lorises (Munds et al, 2013).

The Bornean slow loris is one of the smallest loris species, weighing 0.26-0.3kg, and is covered in pale golden to red fur. It is distinguishable by the relative lack of markings on the back of its head, having instead a soft brown crown. In comparison, the greater slow loris weighs 0.59-0.68kg, has a darker, deep red fur, and dark rings around the eyes, which meet a dark dorsal stripe on the back of the head. Slow lorises are slow moving, arboreal and nocturnal, and feed on a diet of fruit, seeds, leaves, bark, fungi, gums, shoots, flowers, birds’ eggs insects, small vertebrates and invertebrates (Redmond, 2008). During the day they sleep curled up in branches. Little is known of the slow loris social systems, although they are thought to be largely solitary creatures, although groups have been observed when home ranges overlap, and relations between males are thought to be highly antagonistic.

Slow lorises are born after a gestation period of around 6 months, and sexual maturity is reached between 17 and 24 months, at which time they disperse from their mothers. The lifespan of wild slow lorises has not been determined, but it is believed to be between 20-30 years. Incredibly popular as pets, slow lorises are the only primate known to be poisonous, having glands on their arms that secrete a substance that contains toxins to paralyze prey. Their status in the wild is believed to be endangered, although the lack of concrete data means exact figures and population estimates are difficult to determine. Tarsier Tarsiers are small nocturnal primates found throughout South East Asia, and known for their huge round eyes, which are larger, relative to the size of the head, than in any other species (Redmond, 2008). Just one species of tarsier is found in Borneo and Sumatra, the Horsfield’s tarsier (Tarsius bancanus), and it is found in both primary and secondary rainforest, as well as coastal forest and mangrove associations.

Like lorises, tarsiers are small, unusual looking primates, with a head and body length of between 34-63 inches. Unlike lorises, however, they are agile and fast moving, known for being able to jump extraordinary distances between trees. Their leaping ability stems from their powerful legs, which are one and a half times the length of the head and body combined (Redmond, 2008). Entirely carnivorous, tarsiers cling vertically to branches, catching and eating large insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, cockroaches, butterflies, moths, praying mantis, ants, phasmids and cicadas, as well as bats, frogs and snakes. Tarsiers are born after a gestation period of 6 months, and reach sexual maturity around 1. Surprisingly, the social system of the horsfield tarsier is similar to that of an orangutan, with the female raising the young until it leaves the natal home range upon sexual maturity, establishing its own territory.

Male home ranges, of between 2-8-11 hectares, overlap those of several females, and it is likely that the male will mate with all females in his home range, although he will play no active part in the raising of any young. Territories are defined and enforced by a series of vocalizations and scent markings (Redmond, 2008). Unlike most nocturnal primates, tarsiers do not possess a tapetum lucidum, the reflective layer in the back of the eye the produces the ‘cat’s eye’ reflections, which makes them difficult to see at night (Redmond, 2008). This adaptation has likely spared tarsiers from higher levels of poaching, but has made studying them in the wild difficult. References Bartlett, T.Q. (2007). The Hylobatidae: Small apes of Asia. In Campbell, C.J., Fuentes, A., Mackinnon, K.C., Panger, M. & Bearder, S.K, editors, Primates in Perspective. Oxford University Press, UK Kirkpatrick, R.C. (2007). The Asian colobines: Diversity among leaf-eating monkeys.

In Campbell, C.J., Fuentes, A., Mackinnon, K.C., Panger, M. & Bearder, S.K, editors, Primates in Perspective. Oxford University Press, UK Munds, R.A., Nekaris, K.A.I. & Ford, S.M. (2013). Taxonomy of the Bornean slow loris, with new species Nycticebus kayan (Primates, Lorisidae). American Journal of Primatology, 75, pp. 46-56 Nowak, R. M (1999). Primates of the world. Johns Hopkins University Press, USA Primate Info Net- Library and Information Service of the National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin. Redmond, I. (2008). The Primate Family Tree. Firefly, UK Rijksen, H.D. & Meijaard, E. (1999). Our vanishing relative: The status of wild orangutans at the close of the 20th century.

Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands About Chimpanzees and Orangutans | Center for Great Apes binocular vision i.e. both eyes focus on one object (depth perception) reduced olfactory sense and dependent on vision more than smell People often confuse apes and monkeys. Although there are a number of differences between apes and monkeys (apes have a longer lifespan, larger body size, larger brain-to-body size ratio, and higher intelligence); the main difference is that monkeys have tails and apes do not have tails. The difference between great apes and lesser apes is general size. There are two types of lesser apes: gibbons (SE Asia) and siamangs (SE Asia). There are four types of great apes: gorillas (Africa), bonobos (Africa), orangutans (SE Asia), and chimpanzees (Africa). CHIMPANZEES Chimpanzees are great apes that live in the tropical rain forests of Africa from Sudan and Tanzania in the East to Senegal and Angola in the West. Democratic Republic of the Congo has the largest population, although chimpanzees have become extinct in some areas.

They grow to reach heights of three to five feet, and weigh up to 120 to 200 pounds. They are predominantly black, sometimes with gray on their back after 20 years of age. Distinctive habits and characteristics of chimpanzees include: Chimpanzees are the most social of all the apes and live in communities of between 15 and 120 individuals. Their communities are often split into a number of subgroups with a male as the leader of the group. Males seldom leave the community where they were born. Females often migrate to a new community during an adolescent estrus period. Chimpanzees travel mostly on the ground by knuckle walking. Chimpanzees groom each other daily, and this activity has an important social function of calming and comforting individuals and solidifying their bonds with each other. Mothers often travel alone with their offspring. Chimpanzees construct nests at night in which to sleep. Chimpanzee males in the wild cooperatively hunt for meat. Their diet is mainly fruits with regular amounts of insects, as well as birds and small mammals.

Chimpanzees use tools to gain access to food, such as fishing for termites with sticks fashioned for the job and cracking open nuts with anvil-like rocks. Females in estrus have a prominent swelling of the pink perineal skin that lastis two to three weeks and occurs every four to six weeks. Females give birth every four to five years and their gestation period is eight to nine months. Chimpanzees have a long mother-infant dependency period. Infants will nurse on their mothers for five years and stay with their mothers several more years learning to care for younger siblings. The life span for chimpanzees is 40 to 50 years in the wild and over 50 to 60 years in captivity.

There are four distinct populations of chimpanzees in Africa: Pan troglodytes troglodytes (central Africa) Pan troglodytes vellerosus (Cameroon and Nigeria) Pan troglodytes verus (western Africa) Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii (eastern Africa) Chimpanzee Life Stages Old Age: 33 years to death Endangered Status The current chimpanzee population is estimated to be between 80,000 to 120,000. The number one threat is the bush meat trade that results in 6,000 chimpanzees per year being killed and eaten by humans. Chimpanzees are currently threatened to extinction by habitat destruction for logging and mining, as well as poaching for the exotic pet trade. When poached, mothers are killed, and if a baby survives the fall of the mother from the tree, the baby is taken by poachers. ORANGUTANS Orangutans are found in the tropical rain forests of only two islands in the world: Sumatra (in Indonesia) and Borneo (in Malaysia and Indonesia).

They are the largest arboreal (tree dwelling) animal in the world, reaching heights of four to five feet and weights of 125 to 235 pounds or more. Orangutans are reddish-brown in color and some males grow white or yellow beards. Also characteristic are their bare faces with round eyes and small ears; their long, shaggy hair; long arms; and curled fingers and feet. Males are much larger than females and develop large pads on their cheeks called “flanges” and large throat pouches at the age 15 to 20. They spend most of their time in trees and subsist mainly on fruit, leaves, flowers, buds, bark and insects. Distinctive Habits and Characteristics Adult males lead mostly solitary lives (except when consorting with females). Females associate with their infant and juvenile offspring and occasionally an adult sister or mother for short periods of time. Males communicate by the "long call" for territorial and courting purposes. Both sexes are arboreal, spending most of their time in trees, building nests at night, swinging through the trees, and eating in the trees. The lighter weight an orangutan is, the more active.

As they grow older and heavier, they become slower and more cautious, testing each branch before putting their full weight on it. They rarely descend from treetops to ground; when they do, they usually walk on all fours (quadrupedal). Orangutans’ arms are stronger and longer than their legs (one-and-a-half times longer). Their reach from fingertip to fingertip can be as long as eight feet. They pucker up their lips to feel the texture of a piece of fruit or food before they bite into it. . While they are primarily herbivorous and love jungle fruits like durian, jackfruit, and lychee nuts, orangutans have been observed in the wild catching and eating a small animal called a slow loris. Females only give birth every seven to nine years, and their gestation period is about nine months (227 to 275 days). Infants nurse on their mothers for four to five years and stay in their mother’s nest for about seven to eight years. Females raise their infants alone. Orangutans can live 40 years in the wild and over 50 years in captivity.

There are four sub-species of orangutan: in Sumatra: pongo abelli in Borneo: pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus, pongo pygmaeus wurmbii, pongo pygmaeus morio Life Stages Infant: Birth-to-four years (carried by mother) Juvenile: Four-to-eight years (still with mother) Early Adolescence: For females, eight-to-15 years and for males, eight-to-13 years Sub-adult: 13-to-18 years (males only) Adult: For females, 15+ years and for males, 18+ years Endangered Status The current population of orangutans is less than 60,000 individuals (about 53,000 in Borneo and roughly 6,000 in Sumatra). They are gravely threatened to extinction due to habitat destruction (logging, farming, gold mining) and poaching for the exotic pet trade. When poached, mothers are killed, and if baby survives the fall of mother from tree, the baby is taken by poachers. One of the biggest threats today to orangutans is palm oil.

Virgin forests where orangutans live and find all their food are cut down in order to plant the cash crop for palm oil. This oil is widely used in foods and consumers should be aware of ingredients in cookies, ice cream and other foods and not buy products that use palm oil. More threatening now is the use of palm oil in bio fuels. Nearly 5,000 orangutans a year have been killed or died over the past few years as palm oil plantations take up their habitat.

Question: Gibbons and orang-utans are types of which creature?
Answer: Apes