Common Chimpanzee Facts

Common Chimpanzee Fact Sheet

People from all over the world are in love with the Common Chimpanzee. It has a look that people find to be fun and intriguing at the same time. The fact that they are considered to be the closest relative of humans makes them something many people are curious about too. As you explore those similarities you will see that they have lots in common with us.

The face of the Common Chimpanzee is very interesting. They have eyes that resemble humans. They also have wide lips with sharp incisors in the mouth as well as some flat molars in the back. They have ridges along the eyebrows that make the face very distinct.

Anatomy

The Common Chimpanzee is a great ape and they have a very long body. However, it is much lighter than that of the Gorilla. They have very long arms and strong shoulders. This allows them to swing from the various trees without any problems and without using up very much energy in the process.

While they are designed to stand upright, they don’t do so very often. When they are on land they are easily able to walk on their knuckles. If you have every tried to mimic that behavior you know that it isn’t something that you can easily master. The body of the Common Chimpanzee though is designed to be able to do this without any problems.

Evolution

It is believed that the Common Chimpanzee diversified from the other great apes about 20 million years ago. Less than 1 million years ago it was separated from the other species of Chimpanzee known as the Bonobo. It is believed that the Common Chimpanzee and humans share a common ancestor. Based on the fact that their DNA is so similar further indicates their relationship to humans is linked in such a way.

Behavior

Observing the behaviors of the Common Chimpanzee is something many people like to do. In the wild it is a treat to see them playing and laughing. At zoos they are popular attractions due to the show they can put on. The younger ones are even more likely to be a source of entertainment.

However, they shouldn’t be considered timid by any means as the Common Chimpanzee can be a very deadly creature. They are known to be aggressive towards each other as well as to humans. It isn’t a good idea to handle one without proper measures or to keep a small one as a pet illegally.

Even though they can be very aggressive, they can also be extremely caring and loving towards each other. The social aspects of their troop are an intricate part of who they are and their overall survival. They do live in harmony in their sub groups even though fighting is a common part of what goes on with them daily.
They have been able to survive the many changes that occur in their natural environment. They are able to do this because they can problem solve and they can remember things that have gone on with them in the past. They use sticks, rocks, and other tools out there to enhance their overall changes of survival.

Habitat and Distribution

The habitat for the Common Chimpanzee continues to get smaller and smaller. That is a serious threat to their future due to the fact that they need room to roam. They move around looking for food across their home range. They also nest in different areas of their habitat for safety and to rest.

The natural location for them in the wild is scattered throughout the vast area of Africa. There are 20 countries out there identified that have them living around the area. There are no more than 200,000 of them out there today. It could be only half that population though. It is extremely hard to find out what the actual number of them happens to be.

It is a common misconception out there that these animals only live in the rainforests. Most of them do but they also live in the mountain ranges and in the savannah woodlands. Understanding this diverse location where they are able to thrive gives you some insight as to how they have been able to survive for millions of years.

Diet and Feeding habits

The amount of food that a Common Chimpanzee eats on a daily basis can vary significantly. They have different appetites and metabolisms just like humans do. They love to eat fruit but it is seasonal. They can move around in their home range though to find it when it is ripe for them to eat. They also consume plenty of plants and leaves in addition to it.

They aren’t just herbivores though like so many people think. They also consume insects and termites. They use tools to get into the termite mounds including sticks. They can hunt in groups in order to take down a variety of animals out there that they want to feed upon. It is very interesting to see them do their hunting efforts and the successful results of it.

Reproduction

The rainy season is the most common time for the Common Chimpanzee to mate. There is more food during this period of time. However, mating isn’t limited to any particular season of the year. Those taking part in it are at least 10 years of age. The females can be selective about who they mate with. Even though the males are very assertive in their efforts, they are often turned away.

The mothers give birth just over 200 days after conception. The offspring are very small and covered with hair. They consume milk from her body and will be well protected by her. The interval of new birth is about five years so she has plenty of time to form a deep bond with her young. Even when another baby arrives though she will still care for older ones.

Predators

There are predators both on land and in the trees for the Common Chimpanzee. One of them that affects them in both areas is the leopard. They are fast on land and they have no trouble getting into the trees with ease. They have very sharp teeth and they can quickly take on any size of Common Chimpanzee in an instant.

Extremely large snakes lurk in the trees where they sleep and look for shelter. These snakes are fast when it comes to being able to coil around their bodies. They squeeze the life out of them and there is no escaping.

Humans are predators of the Common Chimpanzee in a variety of ways. Some hunt them for survival. In the poor villages of Africa the meat from these animals can make the difference between starvation and survival. Other hunting takes place to clear out areas of land or for the thrill of it.

Most of the time though the problem is that humans want that same territory. They want to be able to clear out areas of trees so that they can make money from mining efforts. They also need to clear areas of land so they can plant food for their own survival. Adults can be wiped out too so that their young offspring can be sold for huge profits. There are plenty of circus shows and even private people that want to own them.