Great Apes

Definition of Great Apes as it relates to Animals, Mammals, Monkeys, Placental Mammals, Primates

Great Apes are a group of primates that include orangutans, gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees, and humans. They are characterized by their large size, complex social structures, and highly developed brains. As mammals, they give live birth to well-developed young, known as infants, after a gestation period of up to 9 months. Within the order Primates, Great Apes are distinguished from other monkeys and lemurs by their lack of tails and their increased reliance on their highly developed brains to navigate their environments. As Placental Mammals, they belong to a group that gives birth to live young after a lengthy gestation period during which the fetus is nourished through a placenta. Within the family Hominidae, Great Apes are the closest living relatives to humans and share many physical and behavioral traits with us, including walking upright on two legs and using tools.

Note