| Texan Bush Ape | |
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| Species: | B. george
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| Binomial name | |
| Bush george (Bush, 1946)
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| Distribution of the Texan bush ape. | |
The Texan bush ape (Bush george), also known as the Dubya, is a species of great apes native to the state of Texas. It is one of the most well-known primates in the United States, and as such it has almost become a national symbol of the country.
Physical description
editThe Texan bush ape has a remarkably human-like appearance, growing to about the same size as an average adult human. Its facial expressions appear similar to that of humans as well, and it is in fact famous for its facial expression resembling a cheesy human grin. Its hair is usually short and has a grey colour.
Behaviour and ecology
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The Texan bush ape is omnivorous, but seems to prefer eating meat whenever possible, and does not hesitate to attack humans. It is known to cooperate with other primates when hunting, and is even able to make use of simple tools for that purpose, such as tanks or strategic bomber aircraft. It is generally a highly aggressive animal, and will even attack and kill when no food is at stake.
The Texan bush ape also seems to be attracted to large quantities of crude oil, a behaviour still not fully understood until today.
Environmental problems
editTexan bush apes have been introduced into various countries around the world, where they often become a serious problem for the local ecosystems.
In Afghanistan and Iraq, Texan bush apes are considered a mammalian pest and invasive species. Here they seem to become even more aggressive than they normally are, and they are known to already have killed several thousands of people in these countries. Some experts have also assumed that the Texan bush apes could soon spread into other countries in the region, such as Iran, and cause similar damage there.