Apes

Ape species are native to the continents of Africa and Asia.  This group of primates, also called homnoids or hominids, includes humans, chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons.  Fossil records have provided us with extensive information about the diverse radiation of apes, which began about 23 million years ago.  The term “great apes” is used to collectively refer to all ape species minus gibbons and siamangs.  The term “lesser apes” has historically been used to refer to gibbons and siamangs, but this terminology is now considered inappropriate in professional forums.

Orangutan and siamang at San Diego Zoo

Many people have a hard time differentiating between monkeys and apes.  In general, apes have larger body size and weight, larger brains (and thus higher intelligence), a more upright body posture, broader chest ,and longer life spans than monkeys.  They rely more heavily on their vision and less on their sense of smell than other primates.  One of the easiest ways to differentiate between apes and monkeys is the presence or absence of a tail. Apes do not have tails, all monkeys do although some are very short, like those of some baboon species.  Apes also have a longer gestation and period of maturation.  The social structures of apes vary widely between species.

Gorilla at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens – photo by Brian Price

Great Apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, gorilla, and orangutans), are generally less arboreal (tree-dwelling) than gibbons.  These species are sexually dimorphic, males being larger than females.  Unlike gibbons, great apes build nests to sleep in and do not have ischial callosities.  They recognize themselves in a mirror, are able to learn sign language and other forms of human communication, understand human speech, and make tools.