Many people often use the words monkey and ape interchangeably. These two types of creatures are often grouped together as well. This is understandable because there are many similarities between the two, including behavior and appearance. However, there are also some striking differences that separate these two amazing groups of animals.
These two creatures are similar to each other because they are both members of the primate order. The primate order is divided into two suborders, called anthropoids and prosimians. The anthropoid suborder is then broken down into three groups, which are hominids, apes and monkeys. The prosimian primate subgroup contains animals such as tarsiers, lemurs and bushbabies.
At first glance, monkeys, such as baboons, tamarins, macaques and mandrills, and apes such as gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees, appear to look and act quite similarly. However, careful observers can easily spot a physical difference between the two. One of the most readily apparent differences is that most monkeys have tails, while their anthropoid cousins do not. The tails are often prehensile, meaning they can grip like a hand. The animals use these tails to swing through the trees and maintain their balance while searching for food.
Another physical difference is in the bone structure of the two animals. Apes can use their arms to swing, and are built with a bone structure more like a human’s. Their anthropoid cousins, on the other hand, have bones that are shaped more like a four-legged animal’s. They can’t use their arms to swing through the trees. Apes are also usually much larger in size. The exception to this rule are gibbons, which are relatively small in size.
There are also some less apparent differences between the two subgroups. Monkeys are considered to be less intelligent, with less evolved brains. Chimpanzees or orangutans are smart enough to use tools to help them find food. Animals such as mandrills, capuchins and marmosets do not use tools. In addition, these two primate groups have different reproductive cycles. Female monkeys have an estrous cycle, meaning they go into heat. Female apes, meanwhile, have a menstrual cycle and do not go into heat.
Images via humbertomoreno, wwarby
