New species of orangutan discovered in Sumatra – and is already endangered

Scientists have discovered a new species of orangutan — but there are so few individuals that the new species is the rarest great ape on Earth.zhshshshshshsh

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Scientists have discovered a new species of orangutan — but there are so few individuals that the new species is the rarest great ape on Earth.

Among the great apes – a group that also includes humans, gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos – orangutans are our most distant relative. Since 2001, two distinct species have been recognised: the Bornean (Pongo pygmaeus) and Sumatran (Pongo abelii) orangutans. Now, it seems, there is a third.

The new species, called Pongo tapanuliensis, is found in the isolated Batang Toru forest in Sumatra, Indonesia. And it’s estimated that there are fewer than 800 individuals left in 1000km², making it very vulnerable to extinction

“It is incredibly exciting to describe a new species of ape,” said Serge Wich, professor in primate biology at Liverpool John Moores University and a co-author of the research. Wich also noted that it was a shock to find such a distinct population 

Writing in the journal Current Biology, an international team of researchers describe multiple characteristics they say indicate the Tapanuli orangutans are a distinct species.

Among the evidence, the team report how they seized the opportunity to examine the remains of an adult male Tapanuli orangutan after it was killed by villagers in November 2013.Among the evidence, the team report how they seized the opportunity to examine the remains of an adult male Tapanuli orangutan after it was killed by villagers in November 2013.

The team compared the skull and jaws to those of 33 other adult male orangutans, held in the collections of 10 institutions around the world, revealing differences in numerous metrics – including that the skull of the Tapanuli male is smaller than that of individuals of the other two species.The team compared the skull and jaws to those of 33 other adult male orangutans, held in the collections of 10 institutions around the world, revealing differences in numerous metrics – including that the skull of the Tapanuli male is smaller than that of individuals of the other two species.

The authors also looked at the characteristics of living individuals, noting that the long booming calls of the Tapanuli males differ from those of the two other known species and that the creatures have more cinnamon-coloured pelts than Bornean orangutans, with a frizzier texture – particularly when compared to the loose locks of Sumatran orangutans. The team also made note of the facial hair of the Tapanuli orangutans, pointing out that dominant males have prominent moustaches, and the females sport beards.The authors also looked at the characteristics of living individuals, noting that the long booming calls of the Tapanuli males differ from those of the two other known species and that the creatures have more cinnamon-coloured pelts than Bornean orangutans, with a frizzier texture – particularly when compared to the loose locks of Sumatran orangutans. The team also made note of the facial hair of the Tapanuli orangutans, pointing out that dominant males have prominent moustaches, and the females sport beards.

The researchers also carried out an analysis of the entire genomes of 37 orangutans from across Borneo and Sumatra, allowing them to unpick the animals’ evolutionary “family tree”.The researchers also carried out an analysis of the entire genomes of 37 orangutans from across Borneo and Sumatra, allowing them to unpick the animals’ evolutionary “family tree”.

The results suggest that orangutans north of Lake Toba branched off about 3.4m years ago from the more southerly population of ancestral orangutans that first arrived from mainland Asia, giving rise to the Sumatran species. A further split from the population south of Lake Toba occurred about 674,000 years ago, giving rise to the Bornean orangutans as well as the newly discovered species that, like its ancestors, live south of Lake Toba.

“The new species represents the most ancestral line of living orangutans,” said Wich“The new species represents the most ancestral line of living orangutans,” said Wich