Chimpanzees are found in western, central and eastern Africa. Most of them live in rain forest. But some chimpanzees live in drier grasslands and other areas. Everywhere, numbers are continually decreasing as a result of habitat destruction and hunting.
Being apes and not monkeys, chimpanzees lack a tail. Their arms are longer than their legs and their armspan is 50 percent longer than their height; the ratio is similar in humans.
Their feet are narrow and have a large opposable ‘thumb’ or big toe, which is used to improve grip when climbing and swinging through the treetops.
In semierect position, the chimpanzee walks on all fours. The arms are used for swinging. In walking, the animal leans on its hands propped by the knuckles and when it stands erect, its arm reach to just below the knees.
The life span is about 35 years and adulthood is achieved about 11 years. Chimpanzees feed on fruit, bird eggs and plant shoots.
Chimpanzees live in groups of about 15 to 120 individuals led by a male. They communicate with each other using facial expression, gestures and sounds.
Chimpanzee
