The great apes were formerly classified in their own family, Pongidae, but, because of their extremely close relation to humans and the fact that orangutans, gorillas, and chimpanzees are not as closely related to each other as chimpanzees are to humans, all are now grouped with humans in the family Hominidae. 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: Simiiformes Superfamily: Hominoidea, Family: Hominidae Subfamily: Homininae (gorillas, hominoids and chimps), Species: Gorilla beringei (Eastern gorilla), Species: Pan troglodytes (common chimpanzee), Species: Pongo pygmaeus (Bornean Orangutan), Species: Hoolock hoolock (Western hoolock gibbon), Species: Hylobates lar (white-handed gibbon, Lar gibbon), Species: Nomascus concolor (Western black crested gibbon, black crested gibbon). 1. 2. Apes' First Word The first word spoken by an ape in Rise of the Planet of the Apes is "no." • Gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos are found throughout central Sub-Saharan Africa, while orangutans are found in either Malaysia or Indonesia. Here's why. The eyes of apes are highly developed, with stereoscopic color vision. © This article was originally published in How It Works issue 89, written by Ella Carter. Apes are a class of primates. • group members cooperatively hunt animals, such as the red colobus monkey. Apes' noses are short and broad, while monkeys' noses are more snout-like. In today’s post we are going over 7 interesting facts about apes that you probably haven’t heard about before. They are all found in the tropical rainforests of Africa. The great apes are a vocal bunch, and use a large vocabulary of sounds to communicate, including shrieks, hoots, roars and growls, as well as other more subtle noises. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. You will receive a verification email shortly. GOAL! Grades. Stay up to date on the latest science news by signing up for our Essentials newsletter today. To make sure you never miss an issue of How It Works magazine, subscribe today! 4. Some of the interesting facts about Apes are: One can find approximately 700 mountain gorillas on Earth in the present day. Why can’t I run as fast when it’s a humid day? The great apes live in Africa and Asia, according to the National Zoo. However, although the similarities are striking, it’s that 0.4 per cent that has allowed us to advance so far past the evolution of the apes (bear in mind that we share almost 50 per cent of our DNA with fruit flies!). A chimp's diet is mainly fruits supplemented with insects, birds and small mammals, according to the Center for Great Apes. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. (Image credit: Image courtesy of Zanna Clay at Òlola ya Bonoboó in the Democratic Republic of Congo). Apes eat a lot of different foods but the main food is fruit. There are two species of gorilla, each of which is made up of two subspecies. One of the most easily recognised is the ‘play face’. Great apes have a variety of habitats, including jungles, mountains, and savannas, mostly in Africa and Asia. The common ancestor of chimps, humans and gorillas evolved around ten million years ago. The females are the dominant sex; they are able to (peacefully) overpower the males to choose their own mates and claim the best food. 24 Interesting facts about great apes 1. Gorillas, the largest of the apes, typically are about 4.5 to 5.5 feet (1.37 to 1.67 meters) tall when upright and weigh 200 to 450 lbs. A carnivore eats meat, a herbivore eats plants, and an omnivore will eat both. They can leap around 30 feet (9 meters) at one time, according to the University of Michigan. Chimpanzees are the most social of all the apes, and live in communities with 15 to 120 individuals. Chimpanzees have the same blood type as humans. Bonobos are one of the most rare primate species, only found in the lush rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. For example, apes have hands and feet that are both able to grasp objects. Apes have arms longer than their legs, and walk on the knuckles of their hands. Baby orangutans stay with their mother until … Twitter; Facebook ; Pinterest; Google Classroom; Email; Print; Background Info. War for the Planet of the Apes is days away, and you know how we do, here on TYDK. Click through and check out our 11 fun facts about Rise of the Planet of the Apes. As the world’s largest tree-climbing species, orangutans disperse seeds from their favourite foods, and help to maintain the health of the ecosystem for other forest inhabitants. That is probably why they fascinate children so much. This lists the logos of programs or partners of NG Education which have provided or contributed the content on this page. 10 facts you probably didn't know about great apes 1. Apes will never be able to speak because of the position of their larynxes, but that doesn’t mean they don’t understand language. Apes are. The same blood types Great apes and humans have the same blood types: A, B, AB and O. Apes are extremely fascinating creatures of the Kingdom Animalia due to their close and outstanding resemblance with human beings. Head of 20th Century Fox, Richard Zanuck finally agreed to finance a make-up test to see if talking apes could be taken seriously—the studio’s main concern. great apes are large, while lesser apes are small. Bonobos live only in rainforest mainly in Africa’s Congo Basin. During the day ape families eat, play and protect each other. And in yet another parallel with us, it seems that this is in part due to their genes and in part due to their social structure and environmental influences: it’s the age-old nature/nurture debate. In fact, people are apes; humans share about 98 percent of their DNA with chimpanzees. Pre-K, K, 1 - 5. The diets of apes are similar to those of other primates. Male orangutans can develop large facial pads known as flanges, but it’s not fully known why some males develop these and others don’t. These types developed more than... 2. Baby orangutans stay with their mother until they are 6 or 7 years old. Released back in April of 1968, Planet of the Apes became an instant fan favorite. Unlike other animals, apes take care of their young for many years. Siamangs grow to 29.5 to 35.5 inches (75 to 90 centimeters) tall from head to rump, according to the San Diego Zoo. There’s more than one type of gorilla, This article was originally published in How It Works issue. Mountain gorillas, though, can grow to 6 feet tall and weigh 300 to 485 lbs. Apes also take much longer to mature than other animals. They are typically omnivores, though most of their intake is herbivorous. But aside from this ability, just how clever are they? Maybe it's because they remind us of ourselves. What are the differences between lager, ale and beer? It was considered a groundbreaking and monumental achievement for its use of prosthetic makeup, and its famous twist soon became one of the most iconic scenes in movie history. Silverback gorillas always make nests on the ground, but females and younger males prefer to sleep aloft. Planet of the Apes was repeatedly pitched to all the major studios, but Jacobs had hard time selling it. Heston recommended Franklin Schaffner (Patton, The Boys from Brazil), who had directed him in The War Lord. And that’s just scratching the surface of what great apes can do. Apes A General Idea | Ape Classification | Interesting Facts About Apes | Ape Factsvisit http://goo.gl/ZqOqvn for more . Living Planet: Seven facts about apes. Humans aren’t descended from any primate species that are still alive today. RELATED: Where to Watch Every Planet Of The Apes Movie Online Content Created by. 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. Based on genetic analysis, humans are more closely related to chimpanzees and bonobos, both sharing 99.6 per cent of our DNA. Gibbons, for example, live in small family groups of two to six individuals. Half of these can be found in the jungles... Gorillas are capable of climbing trees. Just like in humans, cognitive abilities differ from one ape to the next. By Another interesting fact is that apes have arms that are longer than their legs. Not only do they resemble the latter physically, but also possess a high level of intelligence giving rise to behavior patterns similar to that of man. Mountain gorillas only weigh four pounds when they're born. Orangutan Indah holds her two-week-old baby girl, born on Oct. 25, 2013, at the San Diego Zoo. As infants, gorillas are given the same as inoculations humans. Here are several facts about apes for you: Alina Bradford - Live Science Contributor We have covered the great apes’ incredible use of tools that shows some truly outstanding and undeniable brainpower. Apes are generally larger, they don’t have the tails that monkeys do, have a larger brain-to-body size ratio, and rely more on their eyesight than sense of smell. NY 10036. Gibbons, for example, eat mostly fruit, but they also munch on leaves, flowers and insects. The Western gorilla, for example, is listed as critically endangered due to hunting and outbreaks of ebola. It was nominated for two Oscars, Best Costume Design and Best Original Score. We associate smiles with enjoyment, but this is a greeting or affiliation. Apes and Monkeys Apes and Monkeys Learn about the differences between apes and monkeys. Great apes are remarkable creatures that show profound intelligence and capacity for emotion and this list is full of cool ape facts that you've probably never heard before. They have no tail. • chimpanzees often use tools, such as large stones to break open nuts. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Compared to monkeys, apes are bigger. A group of apes is called a tribe or a shrewdness. New York, A gorilla named Koko learnt a vocabulary of more than 1,000 words in American sign language and can use it to communicate. FAST APE FACTS Chimpanzees • chimpanzees live in the forests and savannahs of Africa. GREAT APES FACTS ABOUT GREAT APES • Great apes are comprised of four general species: gorillas, orang-utans, chimpanzees, and bonobos. In fact, only 3 percent of the animal kingdom practices monogamy, according to the Anthropological Institute of University Zürich-Irchel Winterthurerstrasse. An adult male northern white-cheeked gibbon (, (Image credit: © Terry Whittaker, One-Time Use Only.). Gorillas live in big families called harems. Although they are both primates, the last common ancestor of apes and monkeys lived around 25 million years ago. In fact, people are apes; humans share about 98 percent of their DNA with chimpanzees. Our closest African ape relatives were in the genus Pan, and likely looked chimp-like in appearance. Why shouldn’t you store bananas with other fruit? 23/07/2019. The lifespan of an ape is quite long. (135 to 220 kg). All Rights Reserved. This distinction allows apes to comfortably walk on all fours, using their knuckles. If you have a tablet or smartphone, you can also download the digital version onto your iOS or Android device. Apes are not monkeys Although they are both primates, the last common ancestor of apes and monkeys lived around 25... 2. They tend to live in jungles, mountainous areas and savannas. Another is similar to the human smile, where all teeth are on show. … They typically weigh around 9 to 28 lbs. Get to know your ape pals! All apes are very social. The non-human types of apes are divided into two groups: great apes — gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees and orangutans — and lesser apes — gibbons and siamangs. At night they sleep in nests made from branches or foliage on the ground or in trees. Orangutans are the slowest apes to reproduce; they live up to 45 years in the wild and have a baby every eight years. 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. The brain of a gorilla weighs around 600 grams and chimpanzees and orangutans have their brain weighing around 400 grams. (41 to 91 kg). 40 tombs with humans buried in pots discovered in Corsica, 5 Weird Things You Didn't Know About Chernobyl, Wartime submarine 'HMS Urge' identified, quashing conspiracy theories of sub's secret mission. Biology. The non-human types of apes are divided into two groups: great apes — gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees and Anthropological Institute of University Zürich-Irchel Winterthurerstrasse. Apes also have more intricate social, 9. These expressions are combined with many other physical clues and vocal expressions to form a complex language. There was a problem. What makes the great apes so fascinating? All great apes sleep in nests and show sophisticated building techniques, using the differing way that sticks and twigs snap and bend to build comfy sleeping dens. A bonobo called Kanzi even learnt to understand some spoken English the way that human children do, by being exposed to it from an early age. (3.9 to 12.7 kg). Human is included in this class. 10 Facts about Apes. Contents. Bonobos use sticks as weapons. The habitats of great apes and lesser apes are very limited. Bonobos apes live only in the Congo Basin rainforests of central Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the World Wildlife Federation, with a population of only 29,500 to 50,000 individuals. Apes are herbivores for the most part, but they also may eat small animals or bugs to supplement their diet. Amazing Facts: 12 facts about apes 1. They grow to 4 to 4.5 feet (1.2 to 1.4 m) tall and weigh 90 to 200 lbs. Apes have offspring much like humans. Similar to the way we tell how fellow humans are feeling by assessing facial expressions, gorillas use an array of expressions to communicate with one another, along with gestures and vocalisations. Visit our corporate site. If the Sun is constantly losing mass, will the outer planets eventually fly off into space? Subjects. They share about 98 percent of our DNA. Lesser apes live in Asia in evergreen tropical rainforests and monsoon forests. Fun Facts about Apes for Kids. For more science and technology articles, pick up the latest copy of How It Works from all good retailers or from our website now. 29 May 2015. At around six million years ago the lineage broke off that gave rise to modern humans and chimpanzees. Gorillas grin like us, but it’s not because they’re happy, 12. Reading awareness - make sure you know the most important information from the lesson, such as what word describes the type of animal an ape is. March 10th 2015 | Animals The great apes—gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans—are humans' closest living relatives. Gorilla, chimpanzee, gibbons are the different types of apes. There are also orangutans that are maths wizards, chimpanzees that have beaten their human trainers at memory games, and bonobos that can drum along to a beat. In a lifetime, a chimpanzee may construct over 19,000 nests! Enjoy! Apes are humanity's closest living relatives. Condors won't stop visiting (and trashing) this California woman's house. Many ape species are endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. Monkeys and apes … Gibbons are very good jumpers. Similarly, it’s often thought that when teeth are bared, this signifies aggression, but with gorillas this is only true if the mouth is open and ready to bite. Orangutans, chimps and bonobos show the same building capabilities, choosing large forks in strong branches to build a nest that can support their weight, and then padding the nest out with smaller twigs and leaves for comfort. (91 to 204 kilograms), according to Defenders of Wildlife. Apes also have larger brains than monkeys, and they are capable of using tools and learning language. Facts about apes Why apes are smart Citations Introduction Facts about apes Why apes are smart Citations Apes mostly live in Africa, in jungles and Savannas on high places like trees. 1 Image. They also breastfeed their young for an extending amount of time, like humans. Thank you for signing up to Live Science. 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. Bonobos have runny noses These slender, placid great apes are prone to catching common colds. • Mountain gorillas live in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Gibbons and siamangs are much smaller than great apes. We all descended from a … The chimpanzee and many types of gibbons are also endangered. Are you interested to know Facts about Apes? But apes also have many distinguishing features. Apes are generally more intelligent than monkeys, and most species of apes exhibit some use of tools. • they form social groups that are competitive and male dominated. A young bonobo consoles another bonobo who just lost a fight. The class of apes has several members. Bonobos estimated 60,000 and chimpanzees are estimated 300,000 both are listed endangered species. We share 99+ per cent of our DNA with chimps, 11. It lost both, but is one of the few films that took home an honorary award for John Chambers’ make-up achievement. Do commercial airliners have to obey speed limits in the sky? The original Planet of the Apes was the highest grossing film of 1968 with $32 million domestically on its production budget of just $5.8 million.