Gorillas and orangutans species/subspecies

Dear fellow collectors,
I'm trying to expand the primate brand of my "synoptic" collection.
I'm now focused on getting a Gorilla beringei (mountain gorilla) to go along with my Schleich couple (the most recent). I don't know exactly the differences between both species (if any), so I cannot decide for a proper figure... maybe 2020 CollectA?

The same happens with the orangutans. I currently own a family of Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) made up of the Papo male, and the old Schleich female and baby. I've been thinking in the new Schleich female and baby as sumatran (Pongo abelii) but I'm not sure...

What do you think?
Thanks!

This may help with the orangutans: [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

The collectA orangutan is a Sumatran, along with the Papo Male. the Safari family are Bornean. Based on the make that accompanies them, as it’s hard to tell from the female alone, I’d say the Schleich orangutans are Sumatrans.

As for gorillas, the CollectA is marketed as a mountain gorilla, so it’s hard to go wrong there. Papo also advertised a mountain gorilla at this range, but the CollectA is a better representation. Look for shakier fur and shorter arms than the other gorilla species, Those are your best bets for figure identification.

Thank you :)

If a company does not specifically market a gorilla at the species of subspecies level, assume it's generic and you can decide whichever you choose. The external morphologic features are too subtle to be depicted in a toy figure most of the time.

My eastern lowland is Schleich (2017)
My mountain is CollectA (2020)
My western lowland is CollectA (2006)

I agree with endogenylove with regards to orangutans

Great!
So I had wrong marketeed my orangutan family. What confused me was the more bright colour of Sumatran, while the figures are darker, just like Bornean. I used the Illustrated Checklist of Mammals of the World (a MAGNIFICENT book that I recommend). You can see the page devoted to orangutans among the sample ones, you can take a look here.

About the gorillas, I would do as Blaine, but will keep just one lowland, as generic, the Schleich 2017. And will add the mountain gorilla from CollectA to my wishlist. My main question was if they both fit if considered these two species.

Thanks everybody.

I have the Illustrated Checklist of Mammals. It's a great book, but they clearly take the 'splitters' approach to taxonomy, elevating a lot of subspecies to the species level. Some I accept, some I do not. One should do independent research before accepting them :)

I'd love to get this book, it's just the price I have to put into consideration

bmathison1972 wrote:

I have the Illustrated Checklist of Mammals. It's a great book, but they clearly take the 'splitters' approach to taxonomy, elevating a lot of subspecies to the species level. Some I accept, some I do not. One should do independent research before accepting them :)

I was also surprised by the amount of subspecies they mark as species, but it is the illustrations and the completness of the book that I love.
Besides, I'm not an expert on the matter. I'm trying to learn as much as I can, but I'm not in the position to do a rigurous research by myself and reach any valid conclusion. That's why I'm triggering many questions in the forum lately.

Very interesting topic, I have been wondering the same thing about orangutans, planning, as you do, to use the CollectA + newer Schleich female as Sumatran and the older Schleich family as Bornean.

Even if you already have the Papo male, get the CollectA one, it's significantly better and pure typical CollectA masterpiece.

Of course, both gorillas are must-have, I am planning to get the CollectA mountain just to do a walkaround comparison topic here, a "deathmatch" between Schleich and CollectA !

Since the "discovery" of the "Tapanuli orangutan" I think it would be a good idea to merge again both orangutans in a single species, taking in account that hybrids are fully fertile and that physical differences are more subtle than between human races variations...

Pardofelis wrote:

Since the "discovery" of the "Tapanuli orangutan" I think it would be a good idea to merge again both orangutans in a single species, taking in account that hybrids are fully fertile and that physical differences are more subtle than between human races variations...

RtasVadumee wrote:

Very interesting topic, I have been wondering the same thing about orangutans, planning, as you do, to use the CollectA + newer Schleich female as Sumatran and the older Schleich family as Bornean.

Even if you already have the Papo male, get the CollectA one, it's significantly better and pure typical CollectA masterpiece.

Of course, both gorillas are must-have, I am planning to get the CollectA mountain just to do a walkaround comparison topic here, a "deathmatch" between Schleich and CollectA !

Hi Ben!
I'm sorry but the CollectA orangutan is, in my humble opinion, awful hahaha. Same sith the Safari family...
So for now I will just keep my Sumatran family (Papo male, old Schleich female and baby).

Really ? You may not like the pose which is clearly inspired by King Louis [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] but the sculpting and especially the painting are pure CollectA quality in my opinion.

Pepi wrote:

RtasVadumee wrote:

Very interesting topic, I have been wondering the same thing about orangutans, planning, as you do, to use the CollectA + newer Schleich female as Sumatran and the older Schleich family as Bornean.

Even if you already have the Papo male, get the CollectA one, it's significantly better and pure typical CollectA masterpiece.

Of course, both gorillas are must-have, I am planning to get the CollectA mountain just to do a walkaround comparison topic here, a "deathmatch" between Schleich and CollectA !

Hi Ben!
I'm sorry but the CollectA orangutan is, in my humble opinion, awful hahaha. Same sith the Safari family...
So for now I will just keep my Sumatran family (Papo male, old Schleich female and baby).

RtasVadumee wrote:

Really ? You may not like the pose which is clearly inspired by King Louis [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] but the sculpting and especially the painting are pure CollectA quality in my opinion.

Funny thing I like in our village: Three collectors, three points of view

I used to have too much orangutans in the past. Now I only have my three favorites, Safari Ltd WW one, Safari Ltd female with baby and the Kaiyodo WildRush.

By the way Pepi, I like very much your new avatar

The Safari Ltd WW is my favourite, but has not the correct scale for me...

Thanks Kikimalou! It is from Ark Project. I guess you know what it is. Its about a guy who is photographing all animal species and creating a sort of Noah's Ark with those photos.

Yes, the very famous Joel Sartore. He is just a rich version of myself