Scientists have discovered a brand new species of orangutan. Fewer than 800 individuals are estimated to stay, making it the rarest great ape on Earth, based on a study published Thursday (Jan. 11) in Current biology.
Conservationists have known for many years that an odd population of orangutans live within the forests of Batang Toru in North Sumatra, Indonesia, but until recently they were unable to check them to other great apes.
However, after the monkey’s dead body was discovered, experts were in a position to examine its features and DNA to find out what species it belonged to.
To their surprise, they found that it was a very recent species and named it Pongo Tapanuliensis, or Tapanuli Orangutan – the primary recent species of ape discovered this century.
Until now, there have been only six species of great apes: Sumatran and Bornean orangutans which in 1996 were divided into two separate species: eastern and western gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos. The recent discovery, reported within the journal Current Biology, brings the overall to seven.
– said Erik Meijaard, writer of the study Mongabay that differences within the Batang Toru skull “are real and are prone to be fundamental to functional morphology. It’s not only in regards to the overall size difference.
Batang Toru orangutans also differ in behavior from other populations. Scientists write that Batang Toru males have a better vocal pitch than Sumatra males.
Meijaard said in addition they observed differences in feeding behavior – the brand new species selected to eat plants, “no other orangutan has ever been seen eating.”
He added that Sumatran, Bornean and Batangtoru orangutans also appear to construct nests in numerous styles.
“It is astonishing that essentially the most profound genetic division amongst living orangutans has been missed until now,” she said Chris Holgen Down National Geographermammologist from the University of Adelaide in Australia.
“Many overlooked species, such as Pongo tapanuliensisare at risk,” adds Helgen. “It is urgent and crucial that they are thoroughly documented and given scientific names so that they can be recognized as distinctive, studied more closely and protected from extinction.”
Source: Mongabay | National Geographer
