Orang-utan - Physical Characteristics And Habits, Diet, Communication, Behavior And Reproduction, Conservation Of Orang-utans
apes forests
Orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus) are large, long-haired, red apes that inhabit lowland primary forests of Borneo and a small area in the mountains of northwest Sumatra. Their distribution was once much more widespread, extending throughout the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. However, these apes are now endangered, mostly because of the clearing of their forest habitat to develop agricultural land, along with the effects of timber harvesting and hunting. Orang-utans are related to the great apes of Africa, the gorilla and the chimpanzee. In the Malay language, orang-utan means "man of the woods."
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Orang-utans are sexually dimorphic, with adult males being about twice the weight of females. The height of the male is about 54 in (137 cm), it weighs 130-200 lb (60-90 kg), and has an arm span of 7-8 ft (2.1-2.4 m). The long, coarse, coat of orang-utans is typically reddish brown, but is bright orange in juveniles, and can be maroon or dark brown in some adults. The fur is especially long and sh…
Orang-utans are the least vocal of the great apes, but they do have a system of auditory communication. Their most dramatic vocalization is the long call, given only by adult males. The call has been likened to the sound produced by large volumes of water roaring through steel pipes. The precise function of the long call is not known, but it probably serves to space out adult males in territories.…
For thousands of years, the orang-utan has been exploited by humans. Early humans found it an abundant source of food and hunted it to local extirpation in many areas. More recently in Borneo, it has served as a substitute for humans in traditional head-hunting rites. In the 1960s, the population of orang-utans was decreased by the collection of young animals for sale to zoos and the pet trade. De…
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