ORANG, or ORANG-OUTANG, SiMia satyrus, or Pithecus satyrus, or P. Abdii, a species of ape found in the forests of Malacca, Cochin-China, and some of the islands of that part of the'world. The name is sometimes extended in signification, so as 'to include all the species of the restricted genus simia or pitheeus, a genus which exists only in the s.e. of Asia and the eastern archipelago; and was also till of late extended even to the African apes now forming the genus troglodytes, the species which is the subject of this article being distinctively called the RED OILkNG, when it and the chimpanzee were the only anthropoid apes known. The name orang is :Malayan, and signifies man or rational being; outing signifies wild, or of the woods. The genus simia or pithecus differs from troglodytes (the chimpanzee and gorilla) in the more lengthened muzzle—the lower part of the face pro jecting suddenly and remarkably; in the very large canine teeth; in the great breadth of the central incisors; and in the great length of the arms, which are so long that the fin gers can touch the ground when the animal stands erect. The ears are also small, and lie close to the head. The eyes are close together; the nose is little elevated; the lips are scarcely visible when the mouth is shut. The apes of this genus are arboreal in trick habits, and not gregarious. They are ill .adaptedfor walking on the ground, and in a wild state probably almost never assume an erect posture, and although they can be taught to do it in confinement, they maintain it with difficulty, and only when standing still; even then often seeking to adjust the balance of the body by raising the arms above and behind the head. In climbing and swinging among the branches of trees, the hands of the hinder extremities are Used as readily as those of the anterior, and the great length of the arms is useful in enabling them to take hold'of distant branches. The fingers of all the extremities are very long.
Some of the most important distinctions between the anatomy of the anthropoid apes and that of man, are noticed in the article CITIMPANZEE. The orang and its congeners are regarded as differing more widely from man in their anatomical characters than Ilia clihnpanzeo and gorilla ; although the number of ribs is the same as in man, and there are a few other particulars in which the ()rang more nearly resembles a human being than any of the African apes do. The projecting muzzle is much less notable in the young
than in time adult orang, and the aspect of the adult males is further rendered hideous by great callosities on the edieeks. In the adult state, the ridges of the skull also greatly increase in thickness and prominence.
The species of this genus exhibit in a much greater degree than those of troglodytes an anatomical character _common also to many other apes and monkeys, a pouch in the throat, opening from the windpipe, and capable of being dilated:with nir at the pleasure of the animal. In the orang, it branches into several subordinate pouches, which are situated among the muscles of the throat. The use of this organ is not known. It does not appear to have any connection with the voice; and has been supposed, not very probably, to be of some service in leaping, by diminishing the specific gravity of the animal.
There are at least two other species of the genus besides that best known as the orang one of these being the great pongo (q.v..) of Borneo (8. or P. Warnibii), and the other (8. or P. morio), also a native of of comparatively small size. The natural history of these apes has not been thoroughly investigated; and. until recently, it was supposed that the species first known might be identical with the great ape believed to exist in the woods, and that the differences of size and other characters might depend merely on age. The orang is about 3 ft. in length from the heel to the crown of the head. It is covered with brownish-red hair, which, on the back and arms, is 5 or 6 in. long, but very short on the backs of the hands and feet. There is little hair on the face, and none on the palms of the hands. When taken young, it is easily tamed, and becomes sufficiently familiar. It displays considerable sagacity, and some playfulness and love of milischiet, but is not so frolicsome as many of the monkey tribe. Young specimens have sometimes been brought to Europe, but none have lived long. The temper is believed to change very much to the worse, when the animal reaches maturity.