| bipedalism |
being
two-footed or using two feet for standing and walking. People are bipedal
and chimpanzees sometimes walk this way too.
|
|
bonobo
|
(Pan paniscus) also called pygmy chimpanzee; the bonobo is a great ape related to the chimpanzee. They are an endangered species found only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. |
| brachiation | locomotion accomplished by swinging by the arms from one hold to another. Chimpanzees have the ability to move through the trees in this way. |
| bush baby | also called galago; small nocturnal primates native to African forests |
| bushmeat | wild animals killed for food. In 1998, 3,000 gorillas and 4,000 chimpanzees were illegally killed in the commercial bushmeat trade. |
| chimpanzee | (Pan troglodytes) A great ape of equatorial Africa now greatly reduced in numbers and threatened with extinction in the wild. |
| community | A social group whose members live in a specific area. Chimpanzees live in communities. |
| display | to show or exhibit. Chimpanzees sometimes show anger or proclaim dominance by waving their arms, throwing branches or rocks, or charging. |
| endangered species | a species at risk of extinction |
| great ape | any of several apes of the family Pongidae including the gorilla, chimpanzee, bonobo and orangutan |
| grooming | to tend by removing dirt, parasites or other matter from the skin, fur, feathers etc… often performed as a social act. Social grooming is probably the most important social behaviour among chimpanzees, serving to maintain or improve friendships within the community. |
| habitat | food - water - shelter - space…the natural environment of a plant or animal |
| knuckle walking | walking by placing the soles of the feet and the backs of the joint of the fingers on the ground. This is the way chimpanzees travel on the ground. |
| lemur | tree-dwelling, mainly nocturnal primates found only in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. Most lemurs are endangered. |
| lesser ape | gibbons and siamangs |
| monkey | smaller members of the order Primates, most having tails, found in South America, Africa and Asia |
| opposable thumb | a thumb that is capable of being placed opposite to the fingers. Humans, great apes and some other animals have opposable thumbs which give them precision grip. Chimpanzees also have opposable big toes. |
| primate | The Order of Primates is made up of 12 Families. Primates are athletic and intelligent. Most eat plants, but a few are hunters. They also display intricate social behaviour, especially in apes like the gorilla and chimpanzee. |
| primatology | the scientific study of primates |
| primatologist | a scientist who studies primates (Dr. Jane Goodall is a famous primatologist) |
| territory | the area that an animal defends against intruders, especially of the same species |
