apen

Ape is a common name for members of the superfamily Hominoidea, which includes the lesser apes and the great apes. The living apes are divided into two lineages: the Hylobatidae, or lesser apes, consisting of gibbons and siamang; and the Hominidae, or great apes, comprising orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and humans. Apes are distinguished from other primates by larger brains relative to body size, long arms, flexible shoulder joints suited for brachiation, and the absence of a tail.

Lesser apes are small to medium-sized and live in Southeast Asian forests, primarily in social groups that swing among trees. Great apes are larger and have more varied social systems. Orangutans are largely arboreal and solitary; gorillas live in cohesive groups led by a silverback male; chimpanzees and bonobos are highly social and display complex tool use. Humans are uniquely characterized by advanced language, culture, and technology, but share many anatomical and genetic traits with other great apes.

Geographic distribution: apes are native to Africa and Asia; humans inhabit all inhabited continents. Evolutionarily, apes diverged from Old World monkeys about 25–30 million years ago, with the modern great apes emerging in the Miocene and Pleistocene epochs.

Conservation: many ape species are endangered or threatened due to habitat loss, hunting, and disease. Conservation efforts include habitat protection, anti-poaching, and legal protections.

Note: In Dutch, the word apen translates to apes.