Common Chimpanzee

COMMON CHIMPANZEE

 

Common chimpanzee Facts

Common chimpanzee - Pan troglodytes

Common Chimpanzee Description

There is plenty to explore and evaluate when it comes to the Common Chimpanzee. They belong to the class of great apes. With hairy bodies, small ears, and big eyes they can melt out hearts. They also have pouty lips and eyes that seem further back into the head due to the protrusion of the ridge above the eyebrows.

There are many similarities between them and humans that you will want to explore. With a genetic profile that is very similar it is fascinating to see all about them. They have very long jaws that house flat molars in the back. At the front they have sharp incisors. There is more to the Common Chimpanzee though than just their physical attributes.

Common Chimpanzee Anatomy

Taking a closer look at the anatomy of the Common Chimpanzee, you will soon see it is a work of art. They have everything they need to successfully move around both on land and in the trees. They have a strong upper body with shoulder muscles that are very mobile. This gives them the agility and the movements for swinging back and forth in the trees.

They can also stand up while on land or in the trees. Yet you will rarely see them do so because it is a posture that is slow to them. It is also one that consumes lots of energy. Instead they are often seen on land walking on their knuckles. They are very strong and so this process doesn’t hurt them. It also doesn’t consume very much energy.

Common Chimpanzee Evolution

There is still plenty of speculation out there when it comes to the evolution process. It is believed that these animals were able to separate from the great apes around 20 million years ago. Further separation occurred about 1 million years ago. That is why we now have two species of Chimpanzees – this one and the Bonobo.

The study of Common Chimpanzee evolution continues to be one of interest. Yet it takes lots of time and money to be able to move forward. The lack of fossilized remains that have been discovered so far also make it difficult to say with certainty what has occurred over the span of millions of years.

Common Chimpanzee Behavior

It is very exciting to observe the behaviors of the Common Chimpanzee. They seem so human like in many of their characteristics. For example they can use tools to find food and even to defend themselves. They also have been seen playing and laughing just like human children do. The source of entertainment can often cause us to forget they are wild animals though. They have been known to attack humans and should never be raised as pets.

They need their natural environment to thrive and lots of interaction. One that is in captivity without the right environment can become depressed. They can also end up not eating and becoming very ill. You also have to worry about human illnesses that can be deadly to these animals.

They can be very aggressive towards each other and to other animals. They’ve been known to injure or kill humans too when they feel they are in danger. They are manipulative and you really never know what they will do. They are able to problem solve and they can remember things that have occurred in the past.

In their social structure though they are also very loving and caring. Their well being is often connected to this relationship. They need to be able to cooperate in their movements and for hunting. The females take excellent care of the young and they will even adopt those that have become orphans. There are many sub groups that are found within the larger troops.

Common Chimpanzee Habitat and Distribution

There are many locations all over Africa where the Common Chimpanzee lives. You may already know that they are found in the rainforests as that is the common home for them. Yet they are also living in the savannah woodlands and the mountains. As humans continue to invade their natural habitat, they seem to be forced to adapt to new regions.

There could be only 100,000 of them in the wild and there can be up to 200,000 of them out there. The number game is hard to get accurate due to how spread out they are. Add in the fact that they often move around and you will see that experts have trouble keeping track of what is a new troop of them and what they have already seen before.

Common Chimpanzee Diet and Feeding Habits

There are lots of different food sources out there that the Common Chimpanzee depends on for their survival. They are known to eat meat which some people don’t know. They can hunt as a group to be able to take down other animals. They use sticks as tools for getting into termite mounds.

There are plenty of plants and leaves that they consume as they wonder through their home range. They also look for seasonal fruits that will come and go throughout the year. They will feed for several hours a day – both in the early morning hours and then in the late afternoon before the sun goes down.

Common Chimpanzee Reproduction

The rainy season is the main time of year when they will mate. However, it is an occurrence that can occur at any time of the year. When they have lots of food though is when they are the most likely to take part in the mating process. They don’t mate until they are at least 10 years of age. That is also a reason why it is hard to get their numbers back up.

The mother will carry the baby in her body for about 200 days. When it emerges covered with hair and just a few pounds in size she will make it the center of her world. Should her baby die due to a fall or a predator she will greatly mourn that loss. There are several years between the birth of one and the next for the mothers. This gives them time to help their young to mature.

Common Chimpanzee Predators

Some people believe that the Common Chimpanzee doesn’t have any predators. They don’t have too many in the wild but a couple that can create problems for them. Since the Common Chimpanzee is often in the trees they can be attacked by dangerous snakes. They can also be attacked either on land or in the trees by the big cat called the leopard.

Humans have been in the same areas as the Common Chimpanzee for a very long time. The villagers of Africa have often hunted them for a source of meat. That continues to be a big problem even though the African government has made it illegal to do so. Now they have figured out they can make money by guiding hunts and selling the young Common Chimpanzees.

Humans continue to destroy the natural environment of the Common Chimpanzee. They introduce disease, they clear out the trees so they can sell the wood from the trees, and they clear land so they can farm on it. All of this results in a fight for them to find enough food and shelter to be able to survive.

 

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