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Ape is a member of a group of animals that most closely resemble human beings. There are four kinds of apes – chimpanzees, gibbons, gorillas, and orangutans. All these animals have hairy, tailless bodies; longer arms than legs; and long fingers and toes. They also have large brains and rank as the most intelligent animals next to human beings.

Most scientists believe that apes and human beings developed from a common ancestor. Apes resemble human beings in body structure more than any other animals do. They have similar bones, muscles, and organs. But human beings also differ from apes in many ways. For example, human beings have longer legs and less hair on their bodies. Human beings also have a more highly developed and complex brain.

Scientists divide the apes into two groups, based chiefly on size: lesser apes and great apes. Many people confuse apes with monkeys, but the two groups of animals differ in a number of ways. Monkeys have tails and seem less intelligent. The great apes are much larger and have longer fingers and toes. Both monkeys and the great apes walk on all fours. But the great apes do so in a semiupright posture, supporting the front part of their bodies on their knuckles. Gibbons walk on their two feet when on the ground.

Apes live in tropical Africa and Asia. All the apes, except gorillas, eat fruit. Gorillas eat mainly ground plants, such as wild celery and bamboo shoots. Gibbons live in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. They spend most of the times in trees. Chimpanzees are found in the tropical forests and wooded, grassy plains of Africa. They live both in the trees and on the ground. Gorillas live in the lowland and mountain forests of Africa. They make their homes chiefly on the ground and travel in groups of about 15 males and females of all ages. Orangutans live in the tropical forests of Borneo and Sumatra and spend their time largely in the trees.

The number of apes is decreasing because people hunt them to sell to zoos and research centers. In addition, cities and farms have replaced many of the forests where apes once lived.