Pan troglodytes troglodytes

(Blumenbach, 1775)

Vernacular names
English : Central chimpanzee
French : Chimpanzé d’Afrique centrale

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Primata
Family : Hominidae
Notes : 3 other subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach a body length of 82 cm for a weight of 60 kg. Very strong build, long arms, bony crest on head, wide face. Body covered with long black hairs, sparser on breast and belly. Facial skin pinkish to black. This subspecies is the largest and has longer arms. Its face shows a lot less hairs than for other subspecies.

Range and habitat
This subspecies occurs in Cameroon, south of Sanaga river, in Gabon and DR Congo. The species is found patchily from Senegal to Tanzania, south to Gabon. It mostly occurs in forests and wooded savannas, this subspecies being found in dense humid forests.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : ENDANGERED
CITES : Appendix I
Status : This species is legally protected and important populations are found in wildlife reserves. However, its habitat is still being cleared in many parts of its range and the species is still hunted for bushmeat. The spread of infectious diseases such as Ebola Virus is also a big concern as it can wipe out entire populations.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America, EEP in Europe

Observation

 

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