黑猩(xing)猩(xing)在形態上與大(da)(da)猩(xing)猩(xing)很相似,由于體毛較(jiao)為(wei)粗短(duan),體型也顯得瘦小,雄獸(shou)體長為(wei)110-140厘米,站立(li)時(shi)高1-1.7米,體重50-75千克,雌(ci)性比雄獸(shou)小,但(dan)雄獸(shou)和(he)雌(ci)獸(shou)間的差別沒有大(da)(da)猩(xing)猩(xing)大(da)(da)。
黑(hei)猩猩能做出喜(xi)、怒(nu)、哀、樂等(deng)(deng)表(biao)情(qing),當同(tong)(tong)(tong)伴(ban)在一起相遇時(shi)(shi),就(jiu)發出大聲(sheng)喊叫,表(biao)示(shi)問候,有(you)(you)(you)的(de)(de)還互相欠身、拉(la)手、摟抱(bao)(bao)、親吻或用(yong)手撫(fu)摸對方的(de)(de)臉和(he)(he)脖子等(deng)(deng)。當有(you)(you)(you)的(de)(de)個體脾氣煩躁時(shi)(shi),同(tong)(tong)(tong)伴(ban)就(jiu)會(hui)把手搭(da)在它的(de)(de)肩上,使(shi)其平(ping)靜下來(lai)。相互交(jiao)流(liu)(liu)思(si)想和(he)(he)情(qing)報的(de)(de)時(shi)(shi)候,不僅依靠不同(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)聲(sheng)音,而且使(shi)用(yong)各(ge)種各(ge)樣的(de)(de)姿式和(he)(he)手勢(shi)來(lai)表(biao)達較為復雜的(de)(de)感(gan)情(qing)。例如當看到(dao)樹上結(jie)有(you)(you)(you)成(cheng)熟的(de)(de)果實時(shi)(shi),就(jiu)會(hui)大聲(sheng)嚎叫,通(tong)知同(tong)(tong)(tong)伴(ban)取食;遭到(dao)攻擊時(shi)(shi),會(hui)發出驚嚇(xia)或感(gan)到(dao)疼痛的(de)(de)嚎叫,讓同(tong)(tong)(tong)伴(ban)前來(lai)支援;一個成(cheng)員黑(hei)猩猩捕到(dao)獵物,其他成(cheng)員會(hui)伸手去(qu)要吃;感(gan)到(dao)驚訝時(shi)(shi),總(zong)是接觸或擁抱(bao)(bao)旁邊的(de)(de)同(tong)(tong)(tong)伴(ban);發現豐(feng)盛的(de)(de)果實,則(ze)露出欣(xin)喜(xi)的(de)(de)表(biao)情(qing),與同(tong)(tong)(tong)伴(ban)狂熱(re)地親吻和(he)(he)擁抱(bao)(bao),以表(biao)示(shi)興奮(fen)等(deng)(deng)等(deng)(deng)。同(tong)(tong)(tong)伴(ban)之間也常彼(bi)此梳毛、抓癢、捉寄生蟲等(deng)(deng),以促進情(qing)感(gan)的(de)(de)交(jiao)流(liu)(liu)。
多年來(lai),專家對黑(hei)(hei)猩(xing)(xing)猩(xing)(xing)使用(yong)(yong)符號語言(yan)和(he)手(shou)勢(shi)語言(yan)的(de)實(shi)驗研究,已(yi)經突破了(le)巴甫(fu)洛(luo)夫關于(yu)“人(ren)類以(yi)外(wai)的(de)其他動物都不(bu)具備第二信號系統(tong)”的(de)結論。經過相當(dang)的(de)訓練之后,黑(hei)(hei)猩(xing)(xing)猩(xing)(xing)就會掌握用(yong)(yong)一(yi)(yi)整套不(bu)同(tong)顏(yan)色和(he)圖形的(de)塑料片組成(cheng)的(de)詞(ci)(ci)匯系統(tong),并且(qie)用(yong)(yong)它(ta)(ta)們來(lai)與人(ren)進(jin)行(xing)交(jiao)(jiao)談。黑(hei)(hei)猩(xing)(xing)猩(xing)(xing)還能學(xue)會一(yi)(yi)百多個(ge)手(shou)勢(shi),“詞(ci)(ci)”。它(ta)(ta)們不(bu)僅可以(yi)使用(yong)(yong)這(zhe)些詞(ci)(ci)與人(ren)交(jiao)(jiao)談,還可以(yi)在學(xue)會了(le)手(shou)勢(shi)語言(yan)的(de)黑(hei)(hei)猩(xing)(xing)猩(xing)(xing)之間(jian)相互進(jin)行(xing)交(jiao)(jiao)談。甚至能把學(xue)會的(de)詞(ci)(ci)創(chuang)造性地應用(yong)(yong)于(yu)它(ta)(ta)認為合適的(de)場合。比如當(dang)它(ta)(ta)學(xue)會“臟(zang)”一(yi)(yi)詞(ci)(ci)后,甚至用(yong)(yong)這(zhe)個(ge)詞(ci)(ci)來(lai)罵(ma)人(ren)。有一(yi)(yi)次(ci)黑(hei)(hei)猩(xing)(xing)猩(xing)(xing)看(kan)到一(yi)(yi)只打架(jia)的(de)猴子,它(ta)(ta)很討厭這(zhe)猴子,就用(yong)(yong)手(shou)勢(shi)罵(ma)它(ta)(ta)“臟(zang)猴子”。