Why do Ape have long tails?
Apes do not have long tails. In fact that is one of the definitional features of the clade. Monkeys have long tails because they inherited them from their primate ancestors, who had them because they inherited them from their mammal ancestors, who had them because they inherited them from their synapsid ancestors….
Are all apes tailless?
Because all living apes and apes in the fossil record lack tails, scientists think it is safe to say that all apes—living and extinct—are tailless [2]. The ape fossil record suggests that the ape lineage evolved taillessness by ~20 million years ago [3].
Do primates have tails?
Nevertheless, humans and apes have vestigial tails that are internal and not visible. Primates are all in the same tree of descent and have lists of characteristics based on that tree of descent. One of the invisible ones is primates need vitamin C.
When did the first ape have no tail?
The ape fossil record suggests that the ape lineage evolved taillessness by ~20 million years ago [3]. The earliest known ancestor to apes, Proconsul heseloni, lacked an external tail based on fossil evidence [2]. The last sacral vertebra on Proconsul was tapered, indicating that a tail couldn’t have attached to it [4].
Why do apes have no tails?
“The upright stance in apes is enabled anatomically by a shorter lumbar region and the loss of the tail. In addition, the shoulder scapula bone is situated at the back as opposed to the sides as it is in monkeys, hence gibbons are able to raise their arms and swing from them,” Dr Young says.05-Feb-2016
Which ape has a tail?
Despite its usefulness, the prehensile tail is found only in two groups of primates: Cebus – the capuchin monkeys– and the atelines, a group that includes the howler (Alouatta spp.) and spider (Ateles spp.) monkeys. These monkeys are only found in Central and South America.
Are all apes tailless?
Because all living apes and apes in the fossil record lack tails, scientists think it is safe to say that all apes—living and extinct—are tailless [2]. The ape fossil record suggests that the ape lineage evolved taillessness by ~20 million years ago [3].04-Oct-2021
Which ape has no tail?
Barbary macaques are unique in that they lack a tail. For this reason we often hear them referred to as Barbary “apes,” even though they really are monkeys. (True apes include gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, gibbons, and humans.
Does an orangutan have a tail?
Like other apes, orangutans don't have a tail. Orangutans spend most of their life in the trees, swinging confidently from branch to branch.
Is a baboon a monkey or an ape?
Monkey species include baboons, macaques, marmosets, tamarins, and capuchins. Ape species include humans, gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, gibbons, and bonobos. In evolutionary and genetic terms, ape species are much closer to humans than monkeys are.
Does a baboon have a tail?
The baboon, like other Old World monkeys, does not have a prehensile (gripping) tail — meaning their tails are not used as a hand — but they are still able to climb when necessary. They all have dog-like noses, powerful jaws, sharp canine teeth, and thick fur. Males have a longer mane around the neck, called a ruff.
Do gorillas have a tail?
Tail. Gorillas, unlike monkeys, do not have tails.
Did humans use tails?
Our primate ancestors used their tails for balance as they navigated treetops, but around 25 million years ago, tailless apes started appearing in the fossil record.27-Sept-2021
Can humans grow tails?
Over time as a species, however, we evolved past the need for such an organ, which is why the majority of humans no longer grow them. Most humans grow a tail in the womb, which disappears by eight weeks.05-Mar-2021
Does George have a tail?
Curious George never had a tail! Although tails are one of the most prominent features of monkeys, Curious George has never had one. Many people remember the famous cartoon monkey hanging from trees by his tail, and it dragging behind him.30-Jun-2019
Do snakes have tails?
Yes, snakes do have tails. Depending on the snake species, the length of the tail can vary quite a bit. The tail does not serve much of a purpose for all species, and it can be quite small depending on the snake that you are talking about.30-Aug-2021
Do Hedgehogs have a tail?
Tail. Hedgehogs have a short tail, around 2cm long, which is usually hidden beneath their spines.
What do apes eat?
Apes eat a variety of plant and animal foods, with the majority of food being plant foods, which can include fruit, leaves, stalks, roots and seeds, including nuts and grass seeds.
Where are apes native to?
Hominidae. sister: Cercopithecoidea. Apes ( Hominoidea / hɒmɪˈnɔɪdiːə /) are a branch of Old World tailless simians native to Africa and Southeast Asia. They are the sister group of the Old World monkeys, together forming the catarrhine clade.
Why are humans different from other hominoids?
Human diets are sometimes substantially different from that of other hominoids due in part to the development of technology and a wide range of habitation. Humans are by far the most numerous of the hominoid species, in fact outnumbering all other primates by a factor of several thousand to one.
What are the two ape families?
Skeletons of members of the ape superfamily, Hominoidea. There are two extant families: Hominidae, the "great apes"; and Hylobatidae, the gibbons, or "lesser apes". From left: Comparison of size of gibbon, human, chimpanzee, gorilla and orangutan. Non-human hominoids do not stand upright as their normal posture.
What is an ape?
"Ape", from Old English apa, is a word of uncertain origin. The term has a history of rather imprecise usage—and of comedic or punning usage in the vernacular. Its earliest meaning was generally of any non-human anthropoid primate, as is still the case for its cognates in other Germanic languages. Later, after the term " monkey " had been introduced into English, "ape" was specialized to refer to a tailless (therefore exceptionally human-like) primate. Thus, the term "ape" obtained two different meanings, as shown in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica entry: it could be used as a synonym for "monkey" and it could denote the tailless humanlike primate in particular.
Is "ape" a word for a hominoid?
So "ape" —not to be confused with "gre at ape"—now becomes another word for hominoid including humans. The taxonomic term hominoid is derived from, and intended as encompassing, the hominids, the family of great apes. Both terms were introduced by Gray (1825).
Is an ape considered a monkey?
In traditional and non-scientific use, the term "ape" excludes humans, and can include tailless primates tax onomically considered monkeys (such as the Barbary ape and black ape ), and is thus not equivalent to the scientific taxon Hominoidea.
What are some interesting facts about apes?
Facts About Apes. Apes are humanity's closest living relatives. In fact, people are apes; humans share about 98 percent of their DNA with chimpanzees. The non-human types of apes are divided into two groups: great apes — gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees and orangutans — and lesser apes — gibbons and siamangs. Apes are not monkeys; they belong ...
What is the difference between an ape and a monkey?
Apes' noses are short and broad, while monkeys' noses are more snout-like. Apes also have larger brains than monkeys, and they are capable of using tools and learning language. Orangutan Indah holds her two-week-old baby girl, born on Oct. 25, 2013, at the San Diego Zoo. (Image credit: Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo.)
How long do gorillas live?
They can leap around 30 feet (9 meters) at one time, according to the University of Michigan. The lifespan of an ape is quite long. Chimps and other great apes can live up to 50 years in the wild.
What is a group of apes called?
A group of apes is called a tribe or a shrewdness. All apes are very social. Gibbons, for example, live in small family groups of two to six individuals. Siamangs are so close that they almost never wander more than 30 feet (10 m) apart, according to the San Diego Zoo.
What are the two groups of apes?
The non-human types of apes are divided into two groups: great apes — gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees and orangutans — and lesser apes — gibbons and siamangs. Apes are not monkeys; they belong to different branches of the Simian infraorder, and there are several physical differences. Apes do not have tails, while most monkeys do, ...
Why are apes endangered?
Many ape species are endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. The Western gorilla, for example, is listed as critically endangered due to hunting and outbreaks of ebola. The chimpanzee and many types of gibbons are also endangered.
How many people do gorillas have?
Gorillas live in family groups that can include as many as 30 members. Chimpanzees are the most social of all the apes, and live in communities with 15 to 120 individuals. During the day ape families eat, play and protect each other. At night they sleep in nests made from branches or foliage on the ground or in trees.
How to tell if a monkey is an ape?
But when you look at a gibbon or a marmoset, how do you know which is a monkey and which is an ape? The quickest way to tell the difference between a monkey and an ape is by the presence or absence of a tail. Almost all monkeys have tails; apes do not.
What is the difference between a monkey and an ape?
Their bodies are different in other ways too: monkeys are generally smaller and narrow-chested, while apes are larger and have broad chests and shoulder joints that allow them to swing through trees (while some monkeys also have this ability, most of them are built for running across branches rather than swinging).
How many species of monkeys are there?
There are only a handful of ape species, while there are hundreds of species of monkeys. If the primate you’re trying to place is not a human, gibbon, chimpanzee, bonobo, orangutan, or gorilla (or a lemur, loris, or tarsier ), then it’s a monkey.
Do apes have an appendix?
Although you can’t recognize this difference on sight, apes have an appendix and monkeys do not . Apes are generally more intelligent than monkeys, and most species of apes exhibit some use of tools.
Can apes learn sign language?
While both monkeys and apes can use sounds and gestures to communicate, apes have demonstrated higher ability with language, and some individual apes have been trained to learn human sign languages. However, perhaps the best way to remember, like with so many things, is rote memorization.
What are the characteristics of a great apes?
All seven species of great apes share the following characteristics: no tail, a large skull with a large brain, a curved spine and an opposable or prehensile thumb. Like the chimpanzee, which is at home in central Africa and known for its often aggressive behavior.
Why can't apes speak?
In reality, they can't speak at all because they have a higher larynx, or voice box, which means there isn't enough space between the soft palate and the larynx - the resonating cavity is simply too small.
Why do orangutans have flaps on their jowls?
Dominant male orangutans develop large flaps on their jowls that the females are mightily attracted to. In fact, they prefer to mate with well-padded males. The cheek pads are a sign that the male ranks top in the group's hierarchy.
Do apes resemble humans?
The fact that great apes resemble humans has its disadvantages for the animals, however: sometimes, they are treated as prostitutes and are being sexually abused, tied down in questionable brothels. Some female orangutans have sad lives indeed.
Can apes swim?
Great apes can't swim. As a result, zoos have to think twice about using water-filled moats around their compounds because they could easily drown. That said, Wilhelma chose to build a moat - fenced by an electric wire and complete with a non-swimmer's area - in the new great ape house.
Is a gorilla a lowland?
Western gorilla. The Western gorilla is also subdivided, into the Western lowland (photo) and the profoundly endangered Cross River gorilla. Almost all gorillas in zoos are Western lowland gorillas. In the wild, there are far more Western gorillas than the Eastern species.
Do apes have the same blood type as humans?
Great apes and humans have the same blood types: A, B, AB and O. These types developed more than 20 million years ago; they're something humans and all Old World monkeys share. Even some of the lesser apes like Gibbons have these blood types. The Rhesus factor isn't limited to humans, either.
How do apes move?
When moving through trees apes use their arms to swing from branch to branch (a movement known as brachiating) and have evolved shoulder joints to help them do this.
How to tell if a monkey is an ape or a monkey?
The easiest way to distinguish apes from monkeys is by the presence or absence of a tail. With only a couple of exceptions, all 260 species of monkeys have tails, but no apes have tails. Chimpanzee (left) is an ape with no tail vs a spider monkey with a long tail.
What is a primate?
A primate is an animal belonging to the biological order ‘ Primates ’, a group that contains all species of lemurs, monkeys, and apes worldwide. The term ‘monkey’ is generally accepted to refer to two groups of primates – New World monkeys and Old World monkeys. These two groups themselves have many divergences, ...
What are some examples of apes?
To a higher level than monkeys, apes are able to think through and solve problems in their environments. One obvious example of that is the chimpanzee – the closest ape to humans genetically – who create and use simple tools to help them access food. A bonobo walks through the jungle, tool in hand.
What is the name of the group of apes?
The term ‘great ape’ refers to a sub-category of apes known as Hominidae, made up of orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, gorillas, and us – humans (basically all apes except the gibbon family, members of which are known as lesser apes).
Which is more intelligent, a monkey or an ape?
This one may not be so easy to tell from simply looking at a primate in the wild, but apes have a larger brain to body size ratio than monkeys, making them more intelligent. In fact, apes are probably the most intelligent animals around.
Which is bigger, a monkey or an ape?
Apes are usually larger and heavier than monkeys and have broad chests, with shoulder joints that allow them to swing through trees. Monkeys are more like other mammals in body shape than apes, and are generally smaller with narrow chests. Their skeletal structure is similar to a mid-sized mammal like a cat or dog.
1. Toads
Toads are amphibians, and they, like frogs, are born from eggs and hatch into tadpoles.
2. Gorillas
The primary use of a tail is to help the animal balance itself. When you see monkeys, you’ll find that they sometimes use their tails to move from one branch to another.
3. Octopus
The octopus is another creature that doesn’t have a tail. It’s a common idea that octopuses have eight limbs, but none of these are legs.
4. Chimpanzees
Another category of primates that don’t have tails is chimpanzees. These creatures are smaller in size, and you’d expect them to be related to the monkeys.
5. Starfish
The starfish is another marine creature that can move and swim in the sea without the help of a tail.
6. Spider
Spiders are another category of animals that don’t have tails. Belonging to the arachnid family, this unique creature doesn’t need a tail.
7. Orangutans
These beautiful orange-reddish apes found in the forests of Borneo and Sumatra also do not have tails. But you’ll quickly see these primates swinging from one tree to another.
Overview
Apes are a clade of Old World simians native to Africa and Southeast Asia, the other being its sister group Cercopithecidae, together forming the catarrhine clade. The New World monkeys diverged earlier from the old world stock of monkeys, by settling across the Atlantic ocean. They are distinguished from other primates by a wider degree of freedom of motion at the shoulder joint as evolved by the influence of brachiation. Apes do not have tails, apparently due to a mutation of t…
Name and terminology
"Ape", from Old English apa, is a word of uncertain origin. The term has a history of rather imprecise usage—and of comedic or punning usage in the vernacular. Its earliest meaning was generally of any non-human anthropoid primate, as is still the case for its cognates in other Germanic languages. Later, after the term "monkey" had been introduced into English, "ape" was specialized to refer to a tailless (therefore exceptionally human-like) primate. Thus, the term "ap…
Evolution
Although the hominoid fossil record is still incomplete and fragmentary, there is now enough evidence to provide an outline of the evolutionary history of humans. Previously, the divergence between humans and other extant hominoids was thought to have occurred 15 to 20 million years ago, and several species of that time period, such as Ramapithecus, were once thought to be hominins and possible ancestors of humans. But, later fossil finds indicated that Ramapithecus …
Taxonomic classification and phylogeny
Genetic analysis combined with fossil evidence indicates that hominoids diverged from the Old World monkeys about 25 million years ago (mya), near the Oligocene–Miocene boundary. The gibbons split from the rest about 18 mya, and the hominid splits happened 14 mya (Pongo), 7 mya (Gorilla), and 3–5 mya (Homo & Pan). In 2015, a new genus and species were described, Pliobates cataloniae, which lived 11.6 mya, and appears to predate the split between Hominidae and Hylo…
Characteristics
The lesser apes are the gibbon family, Hylobatidae, of sixteen species; all are native to Asia. Their major differentiating characteristic is their long arms, which they use to brachiate through trees. Their wrists are ball and socket joints as an evolutionary adaptation to their arboreal lifestyle. Generally smaller than the African apes, the largest gibbon, the siamang, weighs up to 14 kg (31 lb); in comparison, the smallest "great ape", the bonobo, is 34 to 60 kg (75 to 132 lb).
Behaviour
Major studies of behaviour in the field were completed on the three better-known "great apes", for example by Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Birute Galdikas. These studies have shown that in their natural environments, the non-human hominoids show sharply varying social structure: gibbons are monogamous, territorial pair-bonders, orangutans are solitary, gorillas live in small troops with a single adult male leader, while chimpanzees live in larger troops with bonobos exhibiting prom…
See also
• Dawn of Humanity (2015 PBS film)
• World Declaration on Great Apes from the Great Ape Project
• List of individual apes (for notable non-fictional non-human apes)
• List of fictional primates
External links
• Data related to Hominoidea at Wikispecies
• Hominoidea at Wikibooks
• Pilbeam D. (September 2000). "Hominoid systematics: The soft evidence". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 97 (20): 10684–6. Bibcode:2000PNAS...9710684P. doi:10.1073/pnas.210390497. PMC 34045. PMID 10995486. Agreement between cladograms based on molecular and anatomical data.
Size
Habitat
- The habitats of great apes and lesser apes are very limited. The great apes live in Africa and Asia, according to the National Zoo. They tend to live in jungles, mountainous areas and savannas. Lesser apes live in Asia in evergreen tropical rainforests and monsoon forests. Siamangs prefer to live 80 to 100 feet (25 to 30 m) in the air in the trees found in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Habits
- A group of apes is called a tribe or a shrewdness. All apes are very social. Gibbons, for example, live in small family groups of two to six individuals. Siamangs are so close that they almost never wander more than 30 feet (10 m) apart, according to the San Diego Zoo. Gorillas live in family groups that can include as many as 30 members. Chimpanzeesare the most social of all the ape…
Diet
- Apes are herbivores for the most part, but they also may eat small animals or bugs to supplement their diet. Gibbons, for example, eat mostly fruit, but they also munch on leaves, flowers and insects. Orangutans eat a fruit diet that is supplemented with vegetation, invertebrates, mineral-rich soil and small vertebrates. A chimp's diet is mainly fruits supplemented with insects, birds a…
Offspring
- Apes have offspring much like humans. They have live births after a gestation period of around eight and a half to nine months and typically give birth to only one or two babies at a time. They also breastfeed their young for an extending amount of time, like humans. Unlike other animals, apes take care of their young for many years. Apes also take much longer to mature than other …
Classification/Taxonomy
- The taxonomy of apes (hominoids), according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System(ITIS), is: Kingdom: Animalia Subkingdom: Bilateria Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Infraphylum: Gnathostomata Superclass: Tetrapoda Class: Mammalia Subclass: Theria Infraclass: Eutheria Order: Primates Suborder: Haplorrhini Infraorder…
Conservation Status
- Many ape species are endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. The Western gorilla, for example, is listed as critically endangered due to hunting and outbreaks of ebola. The chimpanzeeand many types of gibbons are also endangered. Bonobos apes live only in the Congo Basin rainforests of central Democrat…
Other Facts
- According to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, humans' and gorillas' bodies are so much alike, diseases can be transmitted from humans to gorillas and vice versa. As infants, gorillas are given the same as inoculations humans. Gibbons are very good jumpers. They can leap around 30 feet (9 meters) at one time, according to the University of Michigan. The lifespan of an ape is qui…