Apes
Apes are primates with long arms, a broad chest, and no tail.
Early apes evolved several million years ago, long before humans.
Only six species of ape survive today. Gibbons, siamangs and
orangutans live in Asia, while gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos
are African apes.
Q Which is the largest of all apes?
A Gorillas are the largest apes. Adult males
are about 1.8 metres (6 feet) tall and weigh
up to 170 kilograms (375 pounds). They have
huge heads, a bulging forehead and a crest
with thick muscles on top of the head.
Although they are portrayed as aggressive and
dangerous killers, gorillas are in reality shy,
peaceful vegetarians. They are extremely
intelligent and can learn complex tasks. Each
evening, gorillas make nests using leaves and
twigs in which they curl up and sleep.
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Quick Q’s:
1. Which species
is known as the
crying ape?
Chimpanzees are
crying apes. They
bark and produce
loud calls to warn the
rest of the group about
approaching danger.
2. Is a siamang also
an ape?
The siamang is a
black-coloured gibbon
found in Malaysia and
Sumatra. The siamang
is one of the three
species that form the
group of lesser apes.
It is the largest of the
lesser apes, growing
to a height of about
1 metre (3 feet).
3. What are bonobos?
Bonobos are a species
of chimpanzee,
discovered in 1928 by
American scientist
Harold Coolidge. They
are the closest relatives
to humans. They walk
on two feet longer than
any other apes feet.
Some bonobos in
captivity have learnt to
speak a human
language. Unlike other
apes, a bonobo society
is controlled by a
female. Today, bonobos
are found only in the
forests of central Congo
in Africa. There are so
few of them that they
are in danger of
becoming extinct.
Gentle giant
Gorillas do not attack
anyone unless
provoked.
In danger
The siamang is distinct for two reasons.
First, two fingers on each hand are fused
together. The second is the large throat
pouch found among the males. The male
siamang can inflate this pouch to make
loud calls. The siamang is under serious
threat as forests are being cut down.
The Living Planet
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