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Orangutan
Pongo pygmaeus
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 Appearance
The orangutan, with its reddish-brown,
shaggy hair, has a strong, heavily built body and
is the second-largest primate. The arms are long and
powerful and reach to the ankles when the animal stands
erect; there is a small thumb on each broad hand that
is opposable to the first digit. The orangutan's legs
are relatively short and weaker than the arms. Males
are much larger and heavier than females and are also
identified by the cheek flaps that surround the face
of the mature adult. All adults have fatty throat
pouches. Height: 1.2 - 1.5 m (4 - 5 ft), tail: absent |
Description
Orangutans live alone, in pairs
or in small family groups and are active in the daytime
at all levels of the trees. They walk along large
branches on all fours or erect and sometimes swing
by their hands from branch to branch. On the ground,
they walk on all fours or stand erect. |
Regions
Sumatra, Borneo in rain forest |
Diet
Fruit is their staple diet,
but they also feed on leaves, seeds, young birds and
eggs. |
Breeding
The orangutan sleeps in the
trees in a platform nest made of sticks; it may make
a new nest every night. After a gestation period of
more than 9 months, the female gives birth to a single
young. She cares for her offspring for some time --
one captive young was suckled for 6 years -- and it
clings to her fur as she moves around in the trees. |
 Status
Endangered |
Conservation Status
ENDANGERED A2cd
(See explanation to IUCN
Red List Categories) |
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