Scientific Name:
Pongo pygmaeus

Classification:
Order : Primates
Family : Pongidae

Description:
The Orang Utan is tail-less, with small ears and a small nose. The coat is long and soft, and reddish brown in color. The arched eyebrows are not very conspicuous, and the jaws are prominent. The head is pear-shaped, the eyes small, and the lips mobile. The arms are very long and strong, and its prehensile feet gives it a 4-handed appearance. Length of head and body averages 96 cm (38.4 inch), standing height 137 cm (54.8 inch), weight 75 kg (165 lbs); females about 80-85% of height and 50% of weight of males.

Behavior:
The Orang Utan feeds mainly on fruit, especially on figs, but it also eats leaves, bark, shoots and flowers. It is arboreal, rarely descending to the ground. It usually lives a solitary life, with mothers and offspring forming the only long-term bond. The adult males live on their own, and only join a female and her young on a temporary basis for mating. There is no evidence of fighting between adult males, and they do not appear to display any territorial behavior. The gestation period lasts between 233-263 days, and the single infant is nursed for many months.

Distribution:
Borneo and Sumatra

Habitat:
Tropical forests