Gorillas are not monkeys; they belong to the ape family. This distinction is based on several biological and evolutionary characteristics.
Defining Apes and Monkeys
Monkeys typically have tails, often used for balance or grasping, especially in arboreal species. Apes, including gorillas, lack tails, which is a key identifier.
Beyond the tail, their locomotion and body structures also differ. Monkeys typically have narrower chests and often move on all four limbs along tree branches. Apes have broader chests and shoulder joints, enabling a more upright posture and specialized movements like brachiation (swinging through trees) or knuckle-walking. Apes also generally have larger brains relative to their body size and exhibit more complex cognitive and social behaviors compared to monkeys. Examples of monkeys include macaques and baboons, while apes encompass gibbons, orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos, and humans.
Gorillas: Clearly Apes
Gorillas clearly embody ape characteristics. They lack a tail, distinguishing them from monkeys. As the largest living primates, gorillas possess a robust build with broad chests and powerful arms, facilitating their terrestrial lifestyle and knuckle-walking locomotion. Knuckle-walking, where they walk on their hands’ knuckles, is a specialized adaptation of African great apes.
Gorillas live in complex social groups, often led by a dominant adult male known as a silverback, demonstrating the advanced social structures typical of apes. Their large brain size supports their intelligence and capacity for problem-solving. Gorillas are classified within the Hominidae family, which includes all great apes and humans.
Dispelling Common Misconceptions
Confusion between gorillas and monkeys often stems from their shared classification under the order “primates.” While both are primates, this broad term can lead to misunderstandings about their specific classifications.
Similarities in general appearance or shared habitats can also contribute to this confusion. For instance, both apes and some monkeys are tree-dwelling, or a generalized primate body shape, which can mislead casual observation. Despite these superficial resemblances, their evolutionary paths diverged significantly millions of years ago, leading to distinct biological groups.
The Broader Primate Family
To understand gorillas’ place, consider the Order Primates. This diverse group shares characteristics like grasping hands and forward-facing eyes.
Primates are broadly divided into two suborders: Strepsirrhines, which include lemurs and lorises, and Haplorrhines, which encompass tarsiers, monkeys, and apes. The Haplorrhines are further subdivided, with monkeys falling into groups like Old World Monkeys and New World Monkeys. Apes are part of the Hominoidea superfamily. This classification highlights that while all are primates, apes and monkeys represent distinct evolutionary branches with unique biological characteristics.