Chimpanzee
Pan troglodytes
Quick answer
The chimpanzee is a great ape native to the forests and savannas of central and western Africa and one of humanity's closest living relatives, sharing around 98% of our DNA. Chimps are highly intelligent, use and make tools, and live in complex social groups. They typically live 40 to 50 years in the wild and are listed as Endangered.
Chimpanzee facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Pan troglodytes |
|---|---|
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Habitat | Tropical forest and wooded savanna |
| Lifespan | 40–50 years in the wild |
| Weight | 30–60 kg (66–130 lb) |
| Top speed | Up to 40 km/h (25 mph) |
| Conservation status | Endangered (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Primates |
| Family | Hominidae |
| Genus | Pan |
Tool use and intelligence
Chimpanzees are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. They make and use tools, fishing for termites with stripped twigs, cracking nuts with stone hammers, and using chewed leaves as sponges. Different communities pass down their own tool traditions, a form of culture once thought to be uniquely human.
Diet and hunting
Chimpanzees are omnivores that eat mostly fruit, leaves, seeds, and insects, but they also hunt cooperatively, sometimes targeting monkeys. They are powerful for their size, with an upper-body strength well beyond that of a human, which they use for climbing and display.
Conservation
Chimpanzees are Endangered, with populations falling due to deforestation, the bushmeat trade, the illegal pet trade, and diseases that can pass between humans and apes. Protecting large areas of forest and reducing poaching are essential to their survival.
Frequently asked questions about the Chimpanzee
How much DNA do chimpanzees share with humans?
Chimpanzees share roughly 98% of their DNA with humans, making them, along with bonobos, our closest living relatives.
Do chimpanzees use tools?
Yes. Chimps make and use a variety of tools, such as twigs to fish for termites and stones to crack nuts, and they pass these skills down through generations as local traditions.
Are chimpanzees stronger than humans?
Pound for pound, chimpanzees are considerably stronger than humans, especially in the upper body, thanks to differences in muscle structure that favor powerful pulling and climbing.
What do chimpanzees eat?
Chimpanzees are omnivores. Their diet is mostly fruit and plants supplemented with insects, eggs, and occasionally meat from cooperative hunts of small mammals.
Why are chimpanzees endangered?
Chimpanzees are Endangered because of habitat loss from logging and farming, the bushmeat and pet trades, and diseases. Their slow reproduction makes recovery from these pressures difficult.
Social life
Chimps live in communities of dozens of individuals with shifting alliances, hierarchies, and politics. They communicate through a rich range of calls, facial expressions, and gestures, and they groom one another to build and maintain bonds. Cooperation, sharing, and even reconciliation after fights are common.