Chimpanzees: Closest Cousins to Humans

The chimpanzee is the only mammal species that shares most similarities with humans. It shares 98% of its DNA with humans, making them close cousins in the animal kingdom. Chimpanzees are one of the greatest types of apes, known for their complex social structure and intelligent behavior. They have the ability to use tools efficiently, solve problems and show a range of emotions, just like humans.

Scientific Classification of Chimpanzees

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Primates
Family	Hominidae
Genus	Pan

Species Evolution and Classification

Close relatives to the bonobo, chimpanzees were the first great apes recognized by Western scientists in the 17th century. These species diverged from humans around 8 million years ago first known as “Chimpanzees.”

They were further split into two Pan species, the common chimpanzee and bonobo after 5 million years. The chimpanzees are aggressive and territorial while the bonobos are calm and peaceful animals.

Chimpanzees do not have unique species types but they can be classified into subspecies based on their adaptability to the environment. Their behavior and characteristics are different across different areas of tropical Africa where they usually reside.

Subspecies	Description
Central Chimpanzee *(Pan troglodytes)*	They are the largest population of chimpanzees found in the Congo Basin’s dense forests.
Western Chimpanzee *(Pan verus)*	These are the wild animals of Western Africa known for hunting with spears and living in caves.
Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee *(Pan ellioti)*	Smaller in size with lighter fur, these subspecies live between the Nigeria and Cameroon regions.
Southeastern Chimpanzee *(Pan marungensis)*	They are unique among other subspecies due to their adaptation in the mountainous forests causing variation is behavior, appearance, and feeding habits.
Eastern Chimpanzee (Pan *schweinfurthii)*	These animals move in large communities that are arboreal and terrestrial across the East African region.

Physical Characteristics of Chimpanzees

Size and Weight: Size and weight vary among males and females due to sexual dimorphism. Adult males are on average 4 ft 11 inches tall and weigh between 40-70 kg while the females are smaller with a height reaching 4 ft 2 inches and weight between 30-50 kgs.

Fun Fact: Captive chimpanzees can be over 5 ft tall with a weight of around 136 kg!

Body Structure: Chimpanzees have a strong build just like humans. However, they have a unique skeleton with a curved bone and a long pelvis which gives them a bowed structure. The arms are longer than the legs with long fingers to support climbing and swinging.

Skin and Hair: Their hairy bodies are black, brown, or ginger. The hair color changes as they age and may turn into white or gray just like humans. The skin below is white in color but it changes due to extreme sun exposure and darkens over time. Older chimpanzees also start to lose their hair in patches.

Facial Features and Teeh: Chimpanzees have round heads with thick brows. Their ears are round with no ear lobes while their noses are small in size. The mouth area is slightly stuck out of the head with a set of 32 teeth. Adult males in the wild have sharp incisors in the front which are clearly visible and make them look fierce.

Locomotion: Because of their special limbs and build chimpanzees use brachiation for moving. This means that they use their long arms to climb and swing from branch to branch and cover greater distances. When on the ground, they can walk in various styles such as walking on two legs or all four limbs using hand knuckles. These styles are similar to gorillas as they have strong muscles for active movement.

Diet and Digestion

Chimpanzees are omnivores by nature but their favorite food is fruits. They love to feed on figs and other fruits available in their region. They also eat leaves, flowers, and tree bark for nutritional needs. Occasionally, they prey on birds, insects, and small mammals such as the colobus monkeys. Their food preferences depend on availability and season.

The digestive system is similar to that of humans however they do require more nutrients, vitamins, fibers, and minerals for quick energy and gut health. The protein from the animals helps in muscle maintenance and reproductive health.

Distribution and Habitat

Chimpanzees are found in vast regions across the Saharan Africa. They can adapt to various habitats including the woodlands, grassland forests, and tropical forests. Habitats are usually 3,000 meters above sea level with large dense fruit-bearing trees.

They prefer large territories to live in and support their communities. Most of them create their nests in tree branches and leaves while some find caves to reside in. Water is an essential need hence they stay near water resources such as rivers and lakes to fulfill their needs.

Behavioral Adaptations

Social Grouping

Chimpanzees are social among themselves and live in communities of 15 – 150 members. Community members live closely together but can form smaller groups based on their activity. For example, the males form a group to go hunting while the females stay back and form a nursery for mothers and offspring. Adult males show dominance over their groups and use vocal aggression to establish their authority.

Communication

Due to high social interaction, chimpanzees have adopted several means of communication. They use deep vocals, facial expressions, and body gestures to their fellows. Pant hooting helps them communicate with long-distance animals, whether they are alerting them about predators or notifying them about food. Facial expressions indicate their emotions and mood. For example, when they are in distress, they make a pouty face.

Hunting Techniques

Hunting is a team effort among chimpanzees. Usually, the males go out to hunt together to get food in their community. They create a team strategy for hunting where all of them play a role in successful hunting. “Drivers” direct in the prey’s direction, “blockers” block the escape routes, and “chasers” run towards the prey to grab them.

Territorial Defense

Chimpanzee communities are highly territorial and protect their fellows at all times. Males patrol the physical boundaries of their community area from time to time to avoid any intruders. They fight with aggression when they find unannounced or neighboring community members coming into their territory.

Chimpanzee Intelligence and Tool Use

Chimpanzees are the only few mammals that have a strong intelligence similar to humans. They have excellent problem-solving, strategy, and adaptability skills. They are wise enough to use various tools for their needs. For example, they use sticks to fish termites and use stones to crack nuts. To live among the complex social structures, they use various strategies for hunting and patrolling. One of the unique features is their memory recall ability where they observe and learn and use it for problem-solving.

Birth and Parenting

Chimpanzees do not have a mating season fixed and can mate all year round. Females can mate with multiple males and sometimes also choose exclusive mating with their chosen ones. The gestation period usually lasts eight months, after which they give birth to their offspring. Mothers are the caregivers as they carry their children on their belly for the first 5-6 months. They are parented by their mothers and other females within their community until they are two years of age. At this time, they go out to explore independently but return to their territory where they learn social and survival skills. Male children stay in the same groups and bond with their fellow males while female children may change their group when they mature.

Mortality Rate and Lifespan

These intelligent and community animals have a short lifespan of less than 15 years. They face several challenges due to predation, threats, and other diseases that increase their mortality rate. However, some chimpanzees may live up to 30 years if they maintain their health and survive deadly threats.

Ecology

While climbing and swinging trees, chimpanzees unknowingly disperse seeds from fruits, plants, and flowers. This regulates the environment, resulting in forest regeneration and plant biodiversity. They also help sustain the ecology of small mammals and insects, essential to keeping the wiser ecosystem streamlined.

Conservation Status and Threats

The IUCN has declared the chimpanzee species “endangered.” The population has only 170,000 to 300,000 living animals, and it is constantly declining due to several reasons.

Main Threats to Chimpanzees

Habitat loss and fragmentation break chimpanzee communities reducing chances of reproduction and flow of resources.

Disease outbreaks such as the ebola virus have greatly impacted these animals in the African regions resulting in sudden deaths and severe illnesses.

Bushmeat Trade by humans where they hunt young chimpanzees and capture them or sell them as pets.

Deforestation and human activities have also impacted chimpanzee populations making it hard for them to survive in their natural habitat.

Chimpanzee Fun Facts

Chimpanzees can recognize themselves in the mirror
They can medicate themselves using medicinal plants
Each chimpanzee group has its own culture which differentiates from other groups
Like humans, chimpanzees comfort each other with hugging and patting
An adult male is five times stronger than a human

Chimpanzees in Human Culture and Media

Since chimpanzees share several traits with humans, they have appeared in movies like “Planet of the Apes” and “Space Chimps” and other visual media to showcase their unique abilities. In the media, these animals are shown doing the same things as humans which better explains their close connection. They are also trained to perform and act in specific ways in theatre and circus plays.

FAQs- Frequently Asked Questions

How closely related are chimpanzees to humans?

Chimpanzees share approximately 98% of their DNA with humans, making them one of our closest living relatives.

What are the main types of chimpanzees?

The main subspecies include the Central, Western, Nigeria-Cameroon, Southeastern, and Eastern chimpanzees, each adapted to different African habitats.

What do chimpanzees eat in the wild?

Chimpanzees are omnivores, primarily eating fruits, leaves, and flowers, but they also hunt small animals and insects.

How intelligent are chimpanzees compared to humans?

Chimpanzees display advanced problem-solving skills, tool use, and memory, showing a high level of intelligence similar to early human capabilities.

How do chimpanzees communicate?

They use vocalizations, facial expressions, and gestures, such as pant hooting and body language, to express emotions and convey messages.

Why are chimpanzees endangered?

Habitat loss, disease outbreaks, bushmeat hunting, and deforestation have severely reduced chimpanzee populations, making them endangered.

What is the average lifespan of a chimpanzee?

In the wild, chimpanzees typically live up to 15-30 years, with many facing challenges like disease and predation that can shorten their lifespan.

How do chimpanzees use tools?

Chimpanzees use sticks to fish for termites, leaves to absorb water, and stones to crack nuts, showing remarkable adaptability in tool use.

How do chimpanzees impact their ecosystem?

Chimpanzees aid in seed dispersal through fruit consumption, contributing to forest regeneration and biodiversity.

How do chimpanzees interact socially?

They live in groups, or “communities,” with complex social hierarchies where individuals bond, cooperate in hunting, and protect their territory.

Are chimpanzees friendly to humans?

Chimpanzees can show friendly behaviors toward familiar humans, but they are wild animals and can be unpredictable or aggressive, especially in unfamiliar situations.

What is the IQ of chimpanzees?

The IQ of chimpanzees is estimated to be similar to that of a young child, roughly between 20-25 on a human IQ scale, showcasing advanced problem-solving and memory skills.

What are chimpanzees known for?

Chimpanzees are known for their intelligence, tool use, and social behavior, making them one of the most human-like animals.

Can chimpanzees fall in love?

While they don’t experience love like humans, chimpanzees form strong bonds and attachments within their social groups.

What do chimpanzees eat?

They primarily eat fruits, leaves, flowers, and occasionally insects, small mammals, and bird eggs.

What animal eats chimpanzees?

Leopards, large eagles, and occasionally humans are known predators of chimpanzees.

Are chimpanzees stronger than humans?

Yes, chimpanzees are about five times stronger than humans due to their muscle structure and physical adaptations.

Do chimpanzees eat eggs?

Yes, chimpanzees sometimes eat bird eggs as part of their diet.

Do chimpanzees have sperm?

Yes, male chimpanzees produce sperm as part of their reproductive process.

Do chimpanzees produce milk?

Yes, female chimpanzees produce milk to nourish their young after birth.

Can chimpanzee sperm fertilize a human egg?

No, chimpanzee sperm cannot fertilize a human egg due to genetic differences.

Learn More About Chimpanzees

On this page, explore our in-depth articles about the remarkable behaviors of chimpanzees.

These articles answer popular questions about chimpanzees, including their diet, social structure, intelligence, habitat, and how they interact with humans and other animals in their environment.

Scroll down to discover unique aspects of chimpanzee behavior and learn why they are considered one of our closest animal relatives.