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- Habitat:
Rainforest,
woodland. Nest in trees. Also spend time on ground. Western and Central
Africa, north of River Zaire. Senegal to Tanzania.
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- Diet: Fruits,
insects (termites and army ants for example), bark, and honey. Sometimes
meat like baby Colobus monkeys and baby baboons.
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- Enemies:Poachers (humans). Leopards,
cheetahs and tigers.
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- Facts: Like
most animals, habitat loss and human ways threaten the chimpanzee
population.
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- There are two
species of chimpanzees. The Common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and the Pygmy chimpanzee (Pan
paniscus).
- They have no
tails.
- Their hands
look very much like their feet.
- Chimpanzees
walk on their knuckles.
- Chimpanzees
can swing by one arm and hang by one arm.
- Chimpanzees
cannot swim.
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- An "alpha"
male usually "rules" in a group and much activity centers
around him.
- They love babies
and care for them like humans do. The babies stay with the mother
for about 2-4 years.
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- While they
are very social and close-knit, there have been times when adults
have attacked, killed and eaten another females baby.
- They spend
about seven hours a day feeding.
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- They can recognize
themselves in the mirror. They are capable of making many different
facial expressions.
- Their "hoots"
are heard over 2 miles away. This means that they can be recognized
from a distance.
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- The babies
"never" leave the mother when they are young. Mother and
baby bond is very strong.
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- Chimpanzees
know how to make their own tools. They perfected and invented the
"leaf sponge".
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- They look the
most like humans. They also kiss and hug like humans.
- Chimpanzees
"grunt" when they are happy.
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- Their arms
are longer than their legs.
- Chimpanzees
age like we do. They can live up to 60 years old (40-45 years old
is an average).
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- They have fingernails
and toenails.
- They're one
of the most intelligent animals.
- Chimpanzees
belong to large communities and tribes. They are very social and travel
in large groups.
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- Chimpanzees
can use tools to solve problems. For example, they can use branches
and grass stems to feed on termites and army ants. They shape the
branch or stem so that it fits nicely into the termite or ant hole.
Then they stick it in and the termites or ants cling to the tool.
They eat the insects and keep doing this to feed themselves.
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- They can have
human diseases (like Maleria and Polio).
- The chimpanzee
was the first animal to venture into space.
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