Ape vs Monkey

Apes are Monkeys, both belong to the family of Simian Primates which have similar origins but differ in their physical attributes and other habits.

Comparison chart

Improve this chart	Ape	Monkey
Class:	Mammal	Mammal
Order:	Primates	Primates
Tail:	No	Yes
Structure:	Apes' arms are longer than their legs. They use their arms to swing branch to branch. Can move on two feet.	Monkeys' arms are the same lenth as, or shorter than, their legs. Cannot swing from branches. Move on four feet.
Brain size:	Large	Small
Diet:	Fruits, grass seeds, small invertebrates.	Fruits, leaves, insects, spiders etc.
Demographics:	Africa and Asia but found across the world now.	Asia, Africa and South America.
Habitat:	Semi terrestrial, terrestrial	Arboreal, semi terrestrial
Lifespan:	Can live to 60 years	Can live up to 30 years
Species:	Around 13 broad species which in turn have many species	Hundreds of known species

1 Physical characteristics
2 Diet
3 Habitat
4 Lifespan
5 Geographical Distribution
6 Similarity to Humans
7 Endangered species
8 See Also
9 References

edit Physical characteristics

While apes have larger bodies and relatively larger brains (and prolonged period of infant dependence means single births are spaced at long intervals), Monkeys are smaller in size. Apes have a larger Brain to body size ratio than do Monkeys.
While most species of monkeys have tails, apes lack tails.
Apes have a mobile, rotary shoulder joint which allows them to brachiate and hang from their arms. Some species of Apes are four footed while some use 2 feet to walk. Monkeys are quadrupeds that jump and run along the tops of branches or on the ground. Monkeys are four footed.
Apes have a wider torso and a shorter, stiffer lumbar region as compared to Monkeys.
Apes have a more upright posture as compared to Monkeys.
Apes rely on vision rather than smell, and thus have shorter noses than some monkeys.

edit Diet

Monkeys generally prefer to eat fruits, leaves, insects and grass while Apes eat fruits, grass and small invertebrate animals.

edit Habitat

Monkeys are mostly arboreal while Apes are semi terrestrial.

edit Lifespan

Monkeys can live up to 30 years while Apes can live for 60 years.

edit Geographical Distribution

While apes are native to Asia and Africa, Monkeys can be found in Asia, Africa and South America.

edit Similarity to Humans

Apes are closely related to humans. Humans form part of the family of Hominidae to which Apes also belong. Hence there are close similarities between the two. Monkeys are primates like humans but still differ a lot. This is because of their relative distance from each other in the evolution cycle.

edit Endangered species

One specie of Apes is considered endangered while that is not so with Monkeys. Most species of Monkeys are not considered endangered.

edit See Also

edit References

Comments: Ape vs Monkey

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Anonymous comments

Not all of this information is accurate. Apes are not monkeys. Monkeys absolutely CAN brachiate (swing) from branches using arms, as well as, legs and tail.
98.210.181.242 on 2012-04-17 20:58:05

Sorry but apes are not monkeys!!!
86.176.248.20 on 2010-09-23 03:27:40