The Great Divide: Chimps and Other Monkey Friends

And now for a little explanation on a common misunderstanding people have regarding Great Apes and other monkeys...


Members of the Great Ape family or Hominidae include chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and gorillas. These magnificent creatures live life sans tails, have larger brain to body size ratio, higher levels of intelligence, and live longer lives overall. Chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas originate from Africa, while orangutans are from Southeast Asia.

Chimpanzee

Bonobos                                                              Orangutan

Monkeys or Simians include gibbons and siamangs, both of which originate from Africa. They have various types of tails, have smaller brain to body size ratio, lower levels of intelligence, and live shorter lives than their Great Ape friends. Siamangs are often referred to as the largest of the gibbons within the monkey grouping.

 

Siamang                                                          Gibbon

Sources:
http://www.centerforgreatapes.org/
http://nothoney.com/2008/07/18/spain-parliamentary-committee-votes-for-rights-for-apes/
http://www.primates.com/bonobos/
http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/mammals/siamang.htm
http://animal.discovery.com/mammals/chimpanzee/