The Great Apes

[The Panther]

Orangutans

Orangutans are the only wild great apes native to Asia, living in the rainforests of the Malay Archipelago. They have shaggy reddish coats that vary in shade depending on individuals and populations. Orangutans are truly arboreal making them the largest primates to live mostly on trees. They are very sexually dimorphic, which is unlike members of the pan genus. Males are not only significantly larger and more robust than females, but they also develop large cheek pads called flanges whilst females have a more neutral face in comparison. Orangutans are generally solitary apes, which is quite uncommon for primates in general let alone apes. The most social interactions are usually between females and their young. Up to several females can share territory with 1 dominant male, this is quite similar to what's seen in big cats where dominant males often share territory with multiple females.

In terms of size, orangutans as a whole are in the middle when it comes to great apes, being larger when compared to members of pan but smaller when compared to gorillas. They're generally similar in size throughout the species with a slight size advantage seemingly going to the Bornean Orangutan, with adult males weighing between 120 lbs to over 220 lbs and females 70 lbs to over 110 lbs. Males can reach over 5 feet in length and females around 4 feet. In captivity males have reached well over 300 lbs with one overweight male being said to have weighed 450 lbs at only 13 years of age. Their maximum size in the wild as far as I'm concerned is unknown, though I do believe they're capable of going past 220 lbs.

Bornean orangutan

*This image is copyright of its original author

Sumatran orangutan

*This image is copyright of its original author

Tapanuli orangutan

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply