G R A P H I C A LLY S P E A K I N G
APES
MONKEYS
Larger brain Great apes have powerful jaw muscles and a thick jaw bone, adapted for eating tough plants or hard nuts Molar teeth have five cusps Longer life span
Smaller brain, but still smart! Less powerful jaw, adapted more for eating fruit or insects Molar teeth have four cusps Shorter life span
Size range from 4.5 inches tall and 3.5 ounces (pygmy marmoset) to 3 feet tall and 80 pounds (male mandrill) Found in the Old World and the New World Live in varied habitats, from tropical forests to dry savannas to snowy mountains
Size range from 4 feet tall and 80 pounds (female bonobo) to 6 feet tall and 400 pounds (male gorilla) Other than humans, only found in the Old World, in Africa and Asia Other than humans, only lives in tropical habitats
SIMPLY SIMIAN
P
rimates are a diverse order of mammals that includes No tail? prosimians, monkeys, It’s most apes, and humans. We all likely an ape! share characteristics like fingernails instead of claws, opposable thumbs, forwardfacing eyes, and considerable parental investment in offspring. The gorilla, chimpanzee, bonobo, and orangutan are called great apes due to their robust size, while gibbons and siamangs are called lesser apes because they are smaller, and there is not a significant size difference between males and females. Primates share many characteristics, but there are distinctions between monkeys and great apes. 2016 is the Year of the DID YOU Monkey in the Chinese KNOW? No two gorilla zodiac, so take a closer noses are alike. look at monkeys and Researchers take close-up nose apes to find out more photos to identify about them! individuals.
8 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2016
ILLUSTRATIONS BY AMY BLANDFORD SDZG ILLUSTRATOR
TEXT BY KARYL CARMIGNANI STAFF WRITER
Adult great apes have larger bodies and broader chests and backs than monkeys.
Flexible shoulders, large range of motion in forearms and wrists, and elbows that can fully straighten are great ape features.
Muscular limbs; arms longer than legs
GORILLA