Chimpanzees and humans are both parts of the Great Ape family. The possibility of a conflict between the two has been going on on the internet. The prevailing consensus has been that a chimp is five times stronger than a man, an overstatement and a misinterpretation.
So between a chimpanzee vs a human, who do you think would win in a fight? We’ll look at the most significant differences between a chimp and a man in their physical and fighting abilities.
We’ll then disclose which species has the best chance of surviving a fight with the other!
Comparing a Chimpanzee and a Human
| Chimpanzee | Human | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Weight: 57- 154 lbs Height: 3ft – 6ft | Weight: 120 – 183 lbs Height: 5ft – 6ft |
| Speed and Movement Type | – 25 mph – Moves about on all fours | – 18 mph – Sprints to enemies |
| Bite Power and Teeth | – 1,300 PSI – 32 teeth including 4 bigger and sharper canines | – 162 PSI – 32 teeth including 4 canines |
| Senses | – Poor sense of smell – Hearing is more sensitive than humans | – Strongest sense is smell – Great sense of sight |
| Defenses | – Use their strong bite and fangs to subdue an opponent | – Fight or flight response |
| Offensive Capabilities | – Using their strong muscles, they grapple, slam, and wrestle their victims to the ground. – They hit, kick, stomp, pull on fur, and drag their victims. | – Humans can use the leverage of their bones to impart more force than they would be able to when using their own muscular structure alone. |
| Predatory Behavior | – High propensity for proactive aggression | – Humans have a low propensity for reactive aggression |
The Key Factors in a Fight Between a Chimpanzee and a Human
A single factor cannot determine the winner of a fight between a chimp and a human. Instead, deciding the winner of this competition necessitates a careful examination of many elements, ranging from the size of the creatures to how they hunt others. We’ve developed a list of seven crucial factors that will help us determine which of these apes would win in a fight.
Physical Features of Chimpanzees and Humans
Often, the larger, stronger creature wins a fight in the wild. Only the most cunning and effective predators can punch an opponent twice their size and knock them down. Examine the physical characteristics of chimps and humans to find which one has the upper hand in certain situations.
Chimpanzee vs Human: Size
Chimpanzees are smaller than humans, weighing between 57 and 110 pounds.
©Darren Hopping-Mills/Shutterstock.com
Adult chimps stand at 150 cm on average. Males in the wild weigh between 40 and 70 kg (88 and 154 lb), while females range between 26 and 50 kg (57 and 110 lb). Humans are taller than chimps, towering at least 160 cm on average and weighing between 120-183 lbs.
Humans have a distinct size advantage.
Chimpanzee vs Human: Speed and Movement Type
A chimp uses all of its limbs to run, moving at 25mph, while humans can only sprint on two legs with an average speed of 18mph. Chimps are faster than men because their muscles contain more fast-twitch fibers, whereas humans have more slow-twitch ones. Fast-twitch filaments are more powerful but burn more energy, so chimps tire out far more quickly than humans.
In terms of speed and movement, chimps have the upper hand.
Chimpanzee vs Human: Bite Power and Teeth
The bite force of chimpanzees is 1,300 PSI, while scientists estimate that our jaws can deliver 162 PSI. A chimpanzee would have a greater bite force than a human, especially since they have four bigger and sharper canines.
The chimp has a stronger bite and deadlier teeth, so it wins this round.
Chimpanzee vs Human: Senses
Sight is man’s most important sense organ.
©Halfpoint/Shutterstock.com
While chimps have a poor sense of smell, they are more sensitive than humans to frequencies higher than 8 kHz. On the other hand, the human’s best senses are olfactory and vision. Chimps can easily hear impending threats, but humans can see every attack.
Overall, these two are probably on par in terms of sensations, so they tie.
Chimpanzee vs Human: Defenses
Chimpanzees subdue opponents with their powerful bite and teeth. They can use their intelligence to defend themselves or start a fight. Humans have a flight or fight response. Hormones are released to prepare your body to either stay and deal with a threat or flee to safety.
In terms of physical defenses, the chimps get the advantage.
Combat Skills of Chimpanzees and Humans
Physical characteristics of animals can assist in deciding who has the upper hand in a fight, but combat abilities are also critical. Examine how lions and wolves inflict harm and kill their prey as it will provide us with a better understanding of how a fight would unfold.
Chimpanzee vs Human: Offensive Capabilities
Chimpanzees can use their powerful muscles to grapple, slam and wrestle a human to the ground.
©Crystal Alba/Shutterstock.com
Chimps grapple, slam, and wrestle their prey to the ground using their powerful muscles. They hit, kick, stomp, pull, and drag their victims. Humans have developed much bigger brains, which allow us to think of cunning ways to attack. We can use the leverage of our bones to impart more force than they would be able to when using their muscular structure alone.
Humans are more intelligent, hence they get the upper hand.
Chimpanzee vs Human: Predatory Behaviors
Humans have a stronger proclivity for proactive aggression than other primates, a feature shared only with chimps but not with bonobos. However, humans have a lower tendency for reactive violence than chimps, making us more bonobo-like in this regard.
The chimp is more diverse in predator behaviors, so it wins.
What Are the Key Differences Between a Chimpanzee and a Human?
A chimp can run at 25 miles per hour using all of its limbs, whereas humans can only sprint on two legs at 18 miles per hour. Chimpanzees use their formidable bite and fangs to subjugate opponents, and they can protect themselves or initiate a fight using their intelligence. Humans have two responses: flight or fight. Hormones are released to help your body decide whether to stay and fight a threat or flee to safety.
These fundamental distinctions, and the other criteria discussed in this comparison, can help determine which species prevail in combat.
Who Would Win in a Fight Between a Chimpanzee and a Human?
A chimp would win a fight against a human. Although chimps and humans are carnivores with formidable fighting abilities, a chimp is far more aggressive and violent than a person.
The ideal plan is to run as fast and as far as possible. Remember that a man is at a disadvantage. His only advantage is his brain, and running is the smartest thing to do.
A man has far more stamina than a chimp. If you run, even if the chimp chases you, he will tire out much faster. If you have no choice but to fight, look for a stick or any weapon. In hand-to-hand combat with a chimp, the man has everything to lose.
Other Animals That Could Take Down a Chimpanzee: Chimp vs Orangutans
Despite their height and physical power, orangutans are thought to be friendly apes. Male chimpanzees typically fight mainly for social supremacy and other things there have even been incidents of them assaulting and murdering people. Male orangutans, in contrast, don’t typically fight unless it’s for their mate or territory.
Chimpanzees have a sophisticated social structure and a natural tendency to alert one another to danger. They are more inclined to engage in physical altercations since they are accustomed to violent behavior.
While both these primates would cause significant damage if threatened, orangutans are much bigger and stronger than chimps. In addition, they have more powerful jaws and skulls than the smaller ape. These findings suggest that an orangutan would prevail in a battle almost every time.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/abzerit
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