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Cited by 353Primate Behavior and EcologyAnimal Behavior and ReproductionEvolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

Life history of wild Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii)

Wich, S.A., Utami-Atmoko, S.S., Setia, T. Mitra, Rijksen, H.D., Schürmann, C., van Hooff, J.A.R.A.M., van Schaik, C.P.·2004·Journal of Human Evolution
DOI 10.1016/j.jhevol.2004.08.006
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Abstract

We present life history data on wild Sumatran orangutans gleaned from a 32-year and a 5.5-year study. Estimated age at first reproduction was 15.4 years. At 9.3 years, the average interbirth interval for this population is the longest ever recorded for any great ape population, significantly longer than that of a Bornean orangutan population. We find that age-specific mortality of Sumatran orangutans does not differ between sexes and is significantly lower than that of wild chimpanzees. We conclude that orangutan life history is the slowest among extant great apes. In accordance with their slow life history, longevity in the wild is estimated to be at least 58 years for males and at least 53 for females. We find no evidence for menopause. These data suggest that compared to the ancestral state, humans have undergone less of an increase in longevity than commonly assumed, and have experienced selection on earlier cessation of reproduction.

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  • Observations in the wild support the hypothesis that ecological food constraints have had widespread repercussions on the physiology, behavior, and life history of orangutans.

    “Observations in the wild support the hypothesis that ecological food constraints have had widespread repercussions on the physiology, behavior, and life history of orangutans.”

    From Metabolic adaptation for low energy throughput in orangutans. (2010) · cites this paper as [8]

  • Orangutans have lower reproductive rates than all other hominoids and the slowest growth rates of any primate except humans.

    “Orangutans, including species of Pongo on both Borneo and Sumatra, have lower reproductive rates than all other hominoids and the slowest growth rates of any primate except humans (7, 8).”

    From Metabolic adaptation for low energy throughput in orangutans. (2010) · cites this paper as [8]

  • In addition to their low rates of growth and reproduction, orangutans live solitary lifestyles, avoiding the increased foraging costs incurred in large groups, and use locomotor strategies that minimize the cost of travel through the canopy.

    “In addition to their low rates of growth and reproduction (8), orangutans live solitary lifestyles, avoiding the increased foraging costs incurred in large groups (8, 28), and use locomotor strategies that minimize the cost of travel through the canopy (29).”

    From Metabolic adaptation for low energy throughput in orangutans. (2010) · cites this paper as [8]

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Authors
Wich, S. A., Utami-Atmoko, S. S., Setia, T. M., Rijksen, H. D., Schürmann, C., van Hooff, J. A. R. A. M., & van Schaik, C. P.
Affiliations
Utrecht University (NL)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Human Evolution
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2004-12
Volume
47
Issue
6
Pages
385-398
ISSN
0047-2484 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jhevol.2004.08.006
OpenAlex
W2129403356
Cited by
353
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 60 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 20
FWCI
15.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Human Evolution (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Keywords
Sumatran orangutan, Pongo abelii, life history, age at first reproduction, birth interval, age-specific mortality, longevity, menopause, great apes, chimpanzees, human evolution, reproductive aging
MeSH terms
Animals, Pan troglodytes, Biological Evolution, Female, Humans, Indonesia, Longevity, Male, Pongo pygmaeus, Pregnancy, Reproduction, Sex Ratio, Life Tables

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