header: Chimpanzee
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line Pan troglodytes Blumenbach, 1779


INTRODUCTION

Three subspecies are recognized:

P. t. verus Schwarz, 1934
P. t. troglodytes Blumenbach, 1779
P. t. schweinfurthi (Giglioli, 1872)

Western Chimpanzee
Central Chimpanzee
Eastern Chimpanzee

Chimpanzees occupy a range of wooded habitats, from humid evergreen forests through deciduous forest to dry savanna woodlands, and have been recorded in montane forests up to 3,000 m.12 Populations in drier areas tend to occ ur at lower densities than those of denser canopy forests or mosaic woodlands.6 Chimpanzees are primarily diurnal. They typically forage for 6-8 hours and may cover a distance of 1.5-15 km.12 T heir diet includes fruits, leaves and other plant parts, honey, insects, eggs and meat.12 Termites are the most important insect.12 Chimpanzees sometimes stalk, kill and eat young antelopes and primates, and may hunt co-operatively.12 Chimpanzees can be relatively aggressive; infanticide and killing of males by males have been recorded.16

Female chimpanzees become sexually mature at 13 to 14 years of age. The gestation period lasts between 202 and 261 days; single young are usually born, although twins occasionally occur.12 Female chimps give birth at five to six year intervals. The infants are nursed until they are about four years of age but may remain dependent upon the mother until about 10 years of age.12 In the wild, females have the potential to produce four or five infan ts during their lifetime, although it is unlikely that more than three would be raised.6

Chimpanzees are highly social animals living in complex communities led by a dominant male. Groups consist of between 20 and 100 animals, with an average of about 35.6,12,13,14 Tool use is undertaken by chimpanzees for feedi ng and for other purposes, such as body care and signalling. The close relationship between humans and chimpanzees in anatomy, behaviour and DNA has been the focus of numerous studies.15


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