# Sumatran orangutan vs Tapanuli orangutan: the differences

> How do the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) differ? Classification, features, range, diet, size, IUCN status and legal protection, from cited sources.

Source: https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/differences/sumatran-orangutan-vs-tapanuli-orangutan/ · Updated 1 October 2026 · English · Bahasa Indonesia: https://panduanhewan.org/id/spesies/perbedaan/orangutan-sumatera-dan-orangutan-tapanuli/
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The Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and the Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) are different species in the same genus, Pongo. Range in Indonesia — the Sumatran orangutan: Northern Sumatra; the Tapanuli orangutan: Batang Toru landscape, North Sumatra.

| Aspect | [Sumatran orangutan](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/sumatran-orangutan/) | [Tapanuli orangutan](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/tapanuli-orangutan/) |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pongo abelii | Pongo tapanuliensis |
| Indonesian name | Orangutan Sumatera | Orangutan Tapanuli |
| Class | Mammalia | Mammalia |
| Order | Primates | Primates |
| Family | Hominidae | Hominidae |
| Range in Indonesia | Northern Sumatra | Batang Toru landscape, North Sumatra |
| Endemic to Indonesia | Yes | Yes |
| Diet | Mainly fruit, with other plant matter and insects | — |
| Diet type | — | herbivore (plant-eater) |
| Reproduction | giving birth to live young (viviparous) | giving birth to live young (viviparous) |
| IUCN status | Critically Endangered | Critically Endangered |
| Legal protection | Protected (Regulation P.106/2018) | Protected (Regulation P.106/2018) |

Every cell comes from the sourced data on each animal’s page.