Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Three great apes are present in the African Rainforest. The gorilla, chimpanzee,
and bonobo differ from monkeys in the length of their limbs, their lack of a tail, and
their larger brain cases. Although not as agile as monkeys, they possess greater
manipulative and communicative skills. Most feed primarily on plants, but the chim-
panzee is known to be carnivorous when living on the savanna. Gorillas are the larg-
est primate in the world. Two species live in the rainforest in different locations. The
western gorilla inhabits the lowland rainforests in Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria, and
Congo; and the eastern or mountain gorilla lives in the montane cloud forests of
Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC. Gorillas live in family groups consisting of one
dominant silverback male, one to three subadult males, females, and juveniles.
Gorillas build nests each night; males usually build theirs on the ground or in low
branches, whereas females make nests high up in the trees. Gorillas typically feed on
leaves, stems, and bamboo shoots. Despite a reputation for being brutal, gorillas are
gentle creatures. Although protected, gorillas are often hunted for meat. During
many of the conflicts in Central Africa, rebels and refugees have entered national
parks where gorillas live and have killed many of them. Another growing threat to
gorillas and chimpanzees is the Ebola virus. Ebola hemorrhagic fever is fatal and
has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of gorillas in Central Africa.
Three subfamilies of chimpanzees live in the African rainforest. The eastern
chimpanzee is found in Central and Eastern Africa and lives in a variety of habitats
from dry savanna to rainforests. The common chimpanzee is found in Central Afri-
can rainforests and open woodland forests. The western chimpanzee is found in
the West African riverine forests, semideciduous forests, and rainforests. Depend-
ing on subspecies, male chimpanzees can reach 95-132 lbs (43-60 kg) in weight,
whereas females are typically smaller at 73-104 lbs (33-47 kg). The chimpanzee is
primarily a frugivore, but it also consumes seeds, nuts, flowers, leaves, pith, honey,
insects, eggs, and vertebrates, including monkeys. During the day, the males will
travel and hunt in groups; females travel alone or with their offspring eating insects,
eggs, and fruits and vegetation along the way. Every night they construct nests of
branches and leaves in a tree. Chimpanzees will use an array of tools in hunting,
preparing food, and grooming. Chimpanzees also have complex social interactions
and elaborate communication skills.
Bonobos are sometimes called pygmy chimpanzees. They are found only in the
rainforest of the DRC, south of the Congo River. Their fur is black, but turns gray
with age. Bonobos males weigh about 85 lbs (38 kg) on average. Females are
smaller, weighing 66 lbs (30 kg). Bonobos tend to be more slender than chimpan-
zees. The bonobo is mostly a frugivorous species, but when fruits are unavailable,
they eat leaves, flowers, seeds, bark, herbs, invertebrates, and small vertebrates.
Some of the vertebrates taken are flying squirrels and young forest duikers. Bono-
bos live primarily in the forest trees in groups of 50 to 100 individuals. Like the
other great apes, at night each individual will make a nest. Bonobos are thought to
be the primate most closely related to humans. They display intelligence, emotion-
ality, and sensitivity. Bonobos and humans share 98.4 percent of the same genetic
