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Orangutan, 
«oh RANG u tan», is a large, red-haired ape that lives in the tropical rain forests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia. Orangutans are the largest tree-dwelling mammal. A male orangutan stands about 4
An orangutan's arms are extremely long compared to its legs and upper body, reaching to its ankles when the animal stands erect. Orangutans also have long, curved fingers and toes that help them grasp branches, making them well-suited for life in trees. They eat and sleep high in the treetops and rarely come to the ground.
Orangutans feed mainly on figs and other fruit. They also eat leaves, bark, and occasionally insects. Orangutans build nests of woven branches for resting and sleeping. They make and use simple "tools" such as sticks that they have stripped of leaves.
Orangutans are less social than other apes. Adults live far apart in the forest and usually avoid one another. Males and females spend several days together when they mate but then part. Females and their young occupy an area called a home range. Strong, mature males have a large home range that includes the ranges of several females. Younger males may roam the forest. If two males meet in the presence of a female, they may fight. Orangutans once lived throughout southern China and Southeast Asia. Today, they are an endangered species. The chief causes of their endangerment include destruction of their habitat, hunting, and the collection of animals for zoos. Laws protect the remaining orangutans and preserve their habitat.
Scientific classification.
Orangutans belong to the great ape family, Pongidae. The scientific name for the Bornean orangutan is Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus. The Sumatran orangutan is Pongo pygmaeus abelli.
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