Chimpanzee Facts: Habitat, Diet, Lifespan & Behavior

Introduction

The chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is a great ape native to Central and West Africa, and one of the two living species that are humanity's closest relatives. It is known for using tools, building sleeping nests and living in large, complex social groups.

Chimpanzees share roughly 98.8–99% of their DNA with humans, according to recent estimates. The other close relative is the bonobo (Pan paniscus), and together the two species make up the genus Pan.

Scientific Classification of the Chimpanzee

There are four commonly accepted subspecies: the Western chimpanzee (P. t. verus), the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee (P. t. ellioti), the Central chimpanzee (P. t. troglodytes) and the Eastern chimpanzee (P. t. schweinfurthii).

The genus name Pan was introduced by Lorenz Oken in 1816, probably inspired by the Greek god Pan. The species name troglodytes means "cave-dweller" and was given by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach in 1776.

Physical Characteristics & Key Identification

Chimpanzees are tailless apes with dark brown or black hair. Their face, fingers, palms and soles are hairless, and the skin there ranges from pink to very dark. Skin is usually lighter in young chimps and darkens with age.

Their arms are longer than their legs, and the arm span can reach about one and a half times their body height. A heavy brow ridge gives the forehead a receding look, and the nose is flat.

On the ground, chimpanzees usually knuckle-walk on all fours. They can walk upright on two legs when carrying objects, and in trees they climb with their long, powerful arms.

Habitat, Distribution & Lifestyle

Chimpanzees live in Central and West Africa, mainly in forests and also in some savanna areas. The common chimpanzee lives north of the Congo River, while the bonobo lives south of it.

They feed and sleep in trees but travel on the ground. Chimpanzees are active during the day (diurnal) and spend the night in nests.

Social Structure

Chimpanzees live in large communities with many males and many females. The hierarchy is fairly flexible, and more than one individual may be dominant enough to boss lower-ranking members.

The top male is called the alpha male. He is not always the biggest or strongest. Males often reach the top by building alliances, and a group of dominant females can help remove an alpha male they do not support.

Females have their own hierarchy too. Young females may inherit high status from a high-ranking mother. The mating system is polygynandrous, meaning both males and females can have several partners.

Communication

Chimpanzees communicate with vocalizations, hand gestures and facial expressions, much like human nonverbal communication. When they communicate, an area of the brain in the same position as the human Broca's area (a language region) is activated.

Tools & Intelligence

Chimpanzees make and use tools. They strip and shape sticks to "fish" termites out of mounds, and they use stones as hammers and anvils to crack nuts. Stone tool use by chimpanzees dates back at least 4,300 years.

They can plan for future events, learn to use symbols, and understand some concepts of number. Jane Goodall's discovery of tool use at Gombe in Tanzania in 1960 changed the belief that only humans make tools.

Nests, Babies & Family

Each night, chimpanzees build a sleeping nest by weaving branches together in the trees. Infants learn this skill by watching their mothers. Chimpanzees reach puberty at around eight to ten years old.

Wild chimpanzees have also been seen adopting orphaned young from their own group.

Lifespan: How Long Do Chimpanzees Live?

Chimpanzees live into their 30s in the wild. Some captive chimpanzees have been reported to reach 70 years or more.

Chimpanzee vs Gorilla

Both are great apes, but they are different species. Gorillas are larger and heavier, while chimpanzees are smaller and more agile. Chimpanzees are also more closely related to humans than gorillas are.

Diet & Ecological Role

Chimpanzees are omnivores, and fruit is the most important part of their diet. They also eat a wide range of other foods:

FruitLeavesStems & budsBark & pithSeedsResinsHoneyInsects (termites)EggsSmall vertebratesRed colobus monkeys

Chimpanzees also hunt smaller primates such as red colobus monkeys and bush babies. Hunting often involves cooperation, and males who get meat may share it with females or use it to gain grooming.

Myth vs. Fact

• Myth: Chimpanzees are monkeys.
  Fact: They are apes. Like all apes, they have no tail, and they belong to the great ape family Hominidae.
• Myth: Chimpanzees are four to eight times stronger than humans.
  Fact: This figure came from 1920s studies that were later refuted. Corrected for body size, chimpanzees are stronger than humans, but not by that much. Later tests found about twice the pulling strength.
• Myth: Chimpanzees live in caves because their name means "cave-dweller."
  Fact: They sleep in tree nests, though some have been reported sheltering in caves from daytime heat.
• Myth: Chimpanzees are always gentle and friendly.
  Fact: Adult chimpanzees, especially males, can be very aggressive and territorial. They are wild animals and not safe as pets.

Conservation Status & Threats (IUCN)

The chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In 2017, the Convention on Migratory Species also selected the chimpanzee for special protection.

The main threats include habitat loss, hunting and disease. Chimpanzees in Tanzania's Mahale Mountains have been affected by a respiratory illness likely caused by a human virus. In the US, a 2015 rule created strict limits on activities with chimpanzees, allowing mainly scientific or conservation-related work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do chimpanzees live?

Chimpanzees live in forests and some savanna areas of Central and West Africa. The common chimpanzee lives north of the Congo River.

What do chimpanzees eat?

Chimpanzees are omnivores that eat mostly fruit. They also eat leaves, seeds, bark, honey, insects, eggs and sometimes small animals such as monkeys.

How long do chimpanzees live?

Wild chimpanzees live into their 30s. Some captive chimpanzees have reportedly lived to 70 years or more.

Are chimpanzees endangered?

Yes. The IUCN Red List classifies the chimpanzee as Endangered because of habitat loss, hunting and disease.

References & Data Sources

• Wikipedia, "Pan (genus)" (text available under CC BY-SA)
• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pan troglodytes
• Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology): Pan troglodytes
• Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), 2017 chimpanzee listing
• Photo: Christian C., Pexels (free license)