Common Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes Mammal Order Primata Description Length 2.5 - 3 ft., 125 - 175 pounds, males slightly larger. Zoo weights higher. Much variation in body size and proportion. Coat mostly black; short, white beard common in adults of both sexes. Baldness also occurs in adults, more so in females. Face mostly hairless and light, darkening with age. Ears large, nostrils small. Females have prominent swelling of the pink perineal region while in heat; males have very large testes. Young have white tuft of hair on rump. Range Western and central Africa, north of River Zaire, from Senegal to Tanzania. Status This species is listed as threatened and commercial trade is prohibited by international law. Principal cause of population decline is habitat destruction, particularly commercial logging. Some hunting for bushmeat or commercial purposes still occurs and has severely depleted populations in some areas. Photo © James P. Rowan

Ecology Habitat Humid forest, deciduous woodland or mixed savanna; presence in open areas depends on access to evergreen, fruit-producing trees.   Niche Ominivorous. Mainly eats fruit and leaves, but during dry season will eat seeds, flowers, bark, insects, birds and mammals. Diurnal, sleeping nests built fresh each night. Mainly terrestrial, walking on soles of hind feet and knuckles of forelimbs, but will spend time or build nests in trees (especially young), using brachiation to travel. Communities number 15 - 120, but feeding is usually an individual activity, especially among females. Males are gregarious and form a loose dominance hierarchy; lone male occur. Neighboring community ranges overlap. Life History Mating non-seasonal; single young born after about 9 months gestation. Young cling within a few days, ride mother at 5 - 7 months, are weaned at about 3 years. Mature at about 10 - 11 years, earlier in captivity. Females promiscuous, migrating to a new community during an adolescent estrous period. Lifespan 40 - 45 years. Special Adaptations Long fingers and opposable thumb allow for both gross and fine manipulation of objects, big toe also opposable for grasping. Hairless face capable of a wide range of expressions; these expressions, when combined with vocalizations, communicate a variety of messages. High degree of intelligence enables the animal to solve a greater range of problems than any animal except human, particularly problems associated with food gathering. Tool use: chimps will make a reed tool for extracting insects from their mound nests or use rocks to smash the hard shells of various fruits. Males will also hurl objects to elaborate their charging displays.