Bornean orangutan
| Bornean orangutan | |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Female with infant both at Tanjung Puting National Park, Borneo | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
| Family: | Hominidae |
| Genus: | Pongo |
| Species: | P. pygmaeus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pongo pygmaeus (Linnaeus, 1760) | |
| Subspecies | |
| |
| Distribution of Pongo pygmaeus in Borneo | |
| Synonyms | |
|
P. agris (Schreber, 1799) | |
The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is an orangutan species endemic to the island of Borneo. It belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia and is the largest of the three Pongo species. It has a coarse, reddish coat and up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) long arms. It is sexually dimorphic — males are larger than females and develop large cheek pads (flanges), for example.
The Bornean orangutan inhabits Borneo lowland rain forests and Borneo montane rain forests up to an elevation of 1,500 m (4,900 ft). Its diet includes fruits, seeds, flowers, bird eggs, sap and vines. It is highly intelligent, displaying tool use and distinct cultural patterns. It is critically endangered, with deforestation, palm oil plantations, and hunting posing a serious threat to its survival.