Book 33, Question 106
Why do orangutans have such long arms?
An orangutan lives in rainforest trees in Southeast Asia.
Its arms can stretch to about seven feet when held out, much wider than its body is tall. Long arms and strong hands help it reach branches far away and hang on while it moves slowly through the treetops. Their long arms make them superb climbers.
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Quick answers
Why do orangutans have such long arms?
Orangutans are the largest arboreal mammals and are very well adapted to life in the trees, with arms much longer than their legs.
Source: Smithsonian
More fun facts
- Orangutans’ arms are longer than their legs which are relatively weak.
- Fingers and toes are long and strong for gripping branches and opposable thumbs enable orangutans to use a variety of tools to extract embedded food or use as fly swatters.
- Orangutans' hands make them graceful and swift while swinging, but it makes walking on the ground very slow and awkward.
- Orangutans sometimes travel on the ground when going long distances because appropriate sized branches may not always be available.
- Orangutans typically build sleeping nests above the ground in various positions of one or more trees.
- From birth, orangutan infants cling to their mothers as they maneuver through the trees.
Sources: denverzoo.org, Smithsonian
Questions kids ask
How do orangutans get water?
Orangutans get water from a variety of sources, including tree holes and leaves that fill with water during the rainy season.
Source: Smithsonian