 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
Habitat
Chimpanzees can be found Central and Western Africa. They range from Senegal
to Tanzania and are usually found along the river Zaire. They like to live
in humid and deciduous rainforests. They also like swamplands, grasslands
and woodlands.
Diet
Chimpanzees are omnivores (eating plants and meat). They forage for food in
the forests during the day, eating leaves, fruit, seeds, tree bark, plant
bulbs, tender plant shoots, and flowers. They also eat termites, ants, and
small animals.
Chimpanzees drink water, often by using a chewed leaf as a sponge to sop up
the water.
Sleeping Nests
Each evening, chimpanzees construct a fresh "sleeping nest"
in the trees where they will curl up and sleep. These bowl-shaped nests are
made out of leaves and other plant material. Nests are only shared by a mother
and her nursing offspring.
Play:
Young chimpanzees play a lot, learning skills they will use as an adult. They
practice using tools, making sleeping nests, climbing, wrestling, etc.
Behaviour
When one chimpanzee gives another a hair grooming, it expects one or a similar
favour in return. There is also other behaviour which would lead someone to
recognize the fact that chimpanzees are our closest relative. Studies of chimp
food sharing has revealed many interesting details.
These contributions have been made by students in Year 7 at Bairnsdale Secondary College.
Click on a name to view their work.
By Brock 7M
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees are our closest relative. We share 98% genetic material.The Head and body length ranges from 28 to 33 inches in females and 30-36 inches in males. Height ranges from about 3-1/4 feet to 5-1/2 feet. Weight is from 29 kg to 54 kg. Captives may be heavier. Arm-spread is 50% greater than height. No tail. Face bare, skin pink in infancy darkening to black in adulthood. Baldness is frequent in adults, typically a triangle on the forehead of male, more extensive in females. Hair colour is black. Infants have white tail tuft and older males (20 or over) may develop grey back patch.
Feed on a wide variety of foodstuffs (over 50 different items) with the largest proportion consisting of fruit and young leaves. In long dry seasons, stems, honey, bark, resin, seeds and nuts are also eaten. Animal prey makes up as much as five percent of the diet, with social insects, such as ants and termites, providing the largest amounts. Feeding is usually an individual activity, but after a cooperative hunt may share in response to begging by others. There seem to be "cultural" differences between groups of chimpanzees in the variety of food taken and the techniques for processing it. West African chimps use wood and stone tools as hammers to open nuts.
Chimpanzees are very intelligent great apes that are closely related to humans. They live in a variety of environments in western and central Africa. Chimps live in small, stable groups (called communities or unit groups) of about 40-60 chimps. They are an endangered species, since the forests they live in are cut down and used for farm land. Chimpanzees often use tools in the wild. They use sticks to get ants and termites to eat and to scare away intruders. They also use chewed-up leaves like a sponge to sop up water to drink.
Anatomy:
Chimpanzees have very long arms (longer than the legs), and a short body covered with black hair (except on the face, fingers, palms, armpits, and bottoms of their feet). Adults have a short, white beard. Chimps range from 2 - 4 ft (0.7 - 1.2 m) tall.
Diet:
Chimpanzees are omnivores (they eat both plants and meat). They forage for food in the forests during the day, eating leaves, fruit, seeds, and other plant material. They also eat termites, ants, and small animals.Chimpanzee
Pan TroglodytesThe Chimpanzee and its relative the Bonobo are more closely related to humans than to any other ape.
Chimpanzee communities number from 20 to 105 apes, but group members will wander alone or in small parties searching for food. They will travel on the ground between trees and sleep wherever darkness overtakes them. When they assemble in larger parties, it is to share a food source. Chimpanzees make tools out of grass stems to "fish" for termites, and make hammers and anvils to crack nuts.Physical description: A medium-size ape with an expressive face, a small nose, a big mouth, and large ears. Long hands and fingers, with short thumb; able to grasp items with its large feet. Their teeth are larger than humans. Coat usually black, but can be brown. .
Height: When standing Chimpanzees are approximately 1.52m tall.
Weight: About 29-54 kg.Habitat: Rain forests, including mountain forests, and also savanna.
Range: Western to central Africa.
Threats: For chimpanzees by far the biggest threat is the bush meat trade. Other dangers for them are commercial logging, the conversion of habitat to agriculture, mineral prospecting and farming and forest fires. This development of mining and logging regularly new routes into previously undisturbed habitat leaving small and unconnected patches were the populations of chimpanzees are isolated. This leaves them at risk from demographic factors. The remaining chimp populations are mostly living in leftover forests, game reserves and national parks. However, these places are all still at risk from unauthorised logging, mining, farming and logging. Every year about 1000 infant chimps are exported from Africa for the pet trade, entertainment industry and the medical testing trade. Chimpanzees are protected by law, but law enforcement is mostly non existent or very meagre.