Common Chimpanzee

The Common Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is a great ape. Colloquially, it is often called the chimpanzee (or simply "chimp"), though technically this term refers to both species in the genus Pan: the Common Chimpanzee and the closely-related Bonobo, or Pygmy Chimpanzee.

Basic facts

Common Chimpanzees are found in the tropical forests and wet savannas of Western and Central Africa. They used to inhabit most of this region, but their habitat has been dramatically reduced in recent years.

Related Topics:
Tropical forests - Savannas - Africa - Habitat

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Adults in the wild weigh between 40 and 65 kg; males can measure up to 160 cm and females to 130 cm, and both are much stronger than humans. Their bodies are covered by a coarse dark brown hair, except for the face, fingers, toes, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Both their thumbs and their big toes are opposable, allowing a precision grip. Their gestation period is 8 months. Infants are weaned when they are about 3 years old, but usually maintain a close relationship with their mother for several more years; they reach puberty at the age of 8-10, and their lifespan in captivity is about 50 years.

Related Topics:
Gestation - Puberty

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Their diet is mainly vegetarian, consisting of fruits, leaves, nuts, seeds, tubers, and miscellaneous plantlife supplemented by insects and small prey; there are also instances of organized hunting. In some cases, such as the killing of leopard cubs, this seems to be primarily a protective effort. However, Common Chimpanzees sometimes band together and hunt Western Red Colobus monkeys (Piliocolobus badius) for their meat. Isolated cases of cannibalism have been documented. Chimpanzees have also been known on rare occasions to attack and eat human infants.

Related Topics:
Fruits - Leaves - Nuts - Seeds - Tuber - Insect - Leopard - Western Red Colobus - Cannibalism

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