bonobo Archives - Animal Fact Guide

What’s the Difference Between a Monkey and an Ape?

Posted on December 5, 2024 by admin

Monkeys and apes share many similarities. They are both primates, which are characterized as social animals with large brains and hands that can grasp.

But what’s the difference between a monkey and an ape? How can you tell them apart?

Tails

The easiest way to tell if it’s a monkey or an ape is by the presence of a tail. Monkeys have tails. Apes do not. So if you see a tail, it’s not an ape.

Example: Look at the glorious tails on these guereza colobuses. Ape? No. Monkey? Yes!

These colobuses have long bushy white tails. Photo by pilesasmiles / iStock.com.

See the long tail on this squirrel monkey as it leaps? Ape? No. Monkey? Yes!

This squirrel monkey has a long tail. Photo by miroslav_1 / iStock.com.

Now look at the tail-less butt of this mountain gorilla. Ape? Yes.

No tail on this silverback mountain gorilla. Photo by VV-pics / iStock.com.

But wait! Some monkeys have teeny tiny stubs of tails that you can’t see.

Look at the butts of these Japanese macaques. Tail? Doesn’t look like it. But is it a monkey? Yes!

Can’t see a tail on this Japanese macaque, but it is a monkey. Photo by Denise Johnson / iStock.com.

So in certain cases where you can’t see a tail, it may be tricky to tell if it’s a monkey or an ape. But there are other distinguishing factors as well.

Size

Apes are generally larger than monkeys and have broader chests.

See the large chest of the orangutan? Ape? Yes.

Bornean orangutan. Photo by Cede Prudente / iStock.com.

Location

Apes live in Africa and Asia. Monkeys live in Africa and Asia too, but they also live in Mexico, Central America and South America. No apes live in the Americas.

Example: This spider monkey is native to Central America and South America. Monkey? Yes.

Colombian spider monkey. Photo by Willy Mobilo / iStock.com.

Intelligence

Both monkeys and apes are intelligent, but apes have a larger brain-to-body ratio and have even greater intelligence. In fact, some apes can even communicate in human sign language!

Example: Apes, like this chimpanzee, are very sophisticated tool users, which is a sign of high intelligence. But it should be noted that there are also a few monkeys who use tools as well.

This chimp is using tools to get fruit out of a box. Photo by Vincent_St_Thomas / iStock.com.

Memorize the Different Kinds of Apes

If all else fails, you could actually just memorize the different kinds of apes because there aren’t that many.

The different kinds of apes are:

Humans
Bonobos / Chimpanzees
Orangutans
Gorillas
Gibbons

So then if it’s an animal within that group, you know it’s an ape!

More Ape vs. Monkey Resources:

If you would like to learn more about apes, see our articles: Bonobo, Bornean Orangutan, Chimpanzee, and Mountain Gorilla.

To learn more about monkeys, see our articles: Guereza Colobus Monkey and Squirrel Monkey or view our archive of monkey blog posts.

Year in Review: Baby Animals of 2014

Posted on December 29, 2014 by admin

This year, we fell in love with many new fuzzy faces and cuddly cuties. Here are a few of our favorite baby animals of 2014!

Best Peek-a-Boo: Nashville Zoo had a bounty of little kangaroo joeys popping up left and right this fall. Here’s one of them:

Photo by Aimee Stubbs / Nashville Zoo.

Cutest Yawn: Three male lion cubs were born at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle on October 24. We love the middle guy’s yawn! Spending 16-20 hours of the day sleeping or resting, lions are the laziest of the big cats. In the wild, they can be found lying on their backs with their feet up or taking a snooze up in a tree.

Photo by Photo by Dr. Darin Collins / Woodland Park Zoo.

Bounciest Baby: A baby klipspringer was born on March 30 at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. The term “klipspringer” is Afrikaans for “rock jumper”, and this little antelope sure does live up to her name!

Photo by Lincoln Park Zoo.

Cutest Snout: Busch Gardens welcomed a Southern tamandua (or lesser anteater) on April 13. In the wild, tamanduas inhabit Central and South America.

Photo by Busch Gardens.

Best Belly Rolls: This little roly-poly hippo calf, born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, Australia on September 11, is just irresistible. In the wild, hippos live in sub-Saharan Africa. The hippopotamus is the second heaviest land mammal in the world!

Photo by Anthony Dorian / Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

Coziest Hug: The Memphis Zoo welcomed a male baby bonobo on April 28 named Mpingo (EM-pingo), which is a type of African tree. The wood from mpingo trees are used to make musical instruments, and so mpingos are sometimes referred to as “trees that make music”. According to Matt Thompson, Director of Animal Programs, “He certainly brings harmony and joy to the group.”

Photo by Laura Horn. Courtesy of Memphis Zoo.

We hope you enjoyed our roundup of adorable animal babies of 2014! Happy New Year!

Baby Bonobo at the Memphis Zoo

Posted on May 23, 2014 by admin

Mpingo’s mother Lily holds him close at the Memphis Zoo’s bonobo exhibit. Photo by Laura Horn. Courtesy of Memphis Zoo.

The Memphis Zoo welcomed a male baby bonobo on April 28. The newborn’s name is Mpingo (EM-pingo), which is a type of African tree. The wood from mpingo trees are used to make musical instruments, and so mpingos are sometimes referred to as “trees that make music”.

According to Matt Thompson, Director of Animal Programs, “This is a very significant birth. He definitely lives up to his name. He certainly brings harmony and joy to the group.”

Mpingo and his mother Lily are doing well. They are both on exhibit with other members of the bonobo troop. Other females in the group will help raise Mpingo, just like what occurs in the wild.

To learn more about Mpingo, visit the Memphis Zoo website. To learn more about bonobos, who are endangered, visit Animal Fact Guide’s bonobo facts page.

Year in Review: Baby Animals of 2013

Posted on December 23, 2013 by admin

What a wonderful year it’s been for adorable baby animals! Here are a few highlights:

Most Eager Eyes: Pictured below is one of two female lion cubs who were born at Busch Gardens on March 20. The cubs have genetic lines from the Kalahari and Kruger regions of South Africa, where lions are recognized for their large size and impressive manes on the males.

Photo by Busch Gardens.

Most Spiky: The Woodland Park Zoo welcomed a North American porcupette (baby porcupine) on April 18. Porcupettes are born with soft quills that harden a few hours after birth, providing quick protection against predators.

The new porcupette at one day old at the Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Ryan Hawk / Woodland Park Zoo.

Best Hugger: This baby bonobo was born on May 12 at the Memphis Zoo. In the wild, bonobos inhabit the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. Currently, the IUCN has categorized bonobos as endangered.

Bonobo baby with mom Kiri. Photo credit: Laura Horn, Memphis Zoo.

Sleepiest Piggy-Backer: It’s a tie between this baby anteater and this baby spider monkey, both of whom were born in June at Busch Gardens!

https://animalfactguide.com/2012/07/baby-animals-at-busch-gardens/

Weighing less than 5 pounds, this baby anteater will eventually grow to be over 100 pounds. The little anteater will ride on his mother’s back for about a year. Photo provided by Busch Gardens

This baby spider monkey got comfy sleeping on his mother’s back. Photo provided by Busch Gardens

Rare Birth: King is an Eastern black rhinoceros born at the Lincoln Park Zoo on August 26. In the wild, Eastern black rhinos are critically endangered due to poaching. It is estimated that there are only 5000 left in the wild in Africa.

After a few timid steps, King gained confidence in the outdoor exhibit, taking in all the new sights and scents. Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Lincoln Park Zoo.

Cutest Snout: Meet Gabana, a baby giant anteater born at the Nashville Zoo on November 16. In the wild, giant anteaters inhabit the tropical forests of Central and South America. They are considered vulnerable of extinction by the IUCN.

Baby giant anteater at Nashville Zoo. Photo by Heather Robertson / Nashville Zoo.

Tallest Baby: In the early morning hours of December 13, a female Masai giraffe was born at Nashville Zoo! At birth, the calf was already 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 180 lbs.

Photo by Amiee Stubbs / Nashville Zoo.

Hope you enjoyed our roundup of cute animal babies of 2013. Happy New Year!

Bonobo Baby Face!

Posted on August 12, 2013 by admin

Memphis Zoo keeper Sandi Shoemaker captured this moment with Mobali, a three-month-old baby bonobo.

Closeup of baby Mobali, a bonobo at the Memphis Zoo. Photo by Sandi Shoemaker / Memphis Zoo.

Learn more about Mobali’s birth on our blog. You can also learn more about bonobos at our bonobo facts article.

Baby Bonobo is a Boy!

Posted on June 25, 2013 by admin

The Memphis Zoo announced the baby bonobo born on Mother’s Day is a boy! His name is Mobali. Here are photos of the celebration.

The bonobos open up a box of treats to celebrate. Photo by Laura Horn, Graphic Designer at Memphis Zoo.

It’s a boy! Photo by Laura Horn, Graphic Designer at Memphis Zoo.

A quiet moment for mama and baby Mobali. Photo by Laura Horn, Graphic Designer at Memphis Zoo.

To learn more about bonobos, see our Bonobo Facts page.

Baby Bonobo at Memphis Zoo

Posted on June 12, 2013 by admin

Bonobo baby with mom Kiri. Photo credit: Laura Horn, Memphis Zoo.

A baby bonobo was born at the Memphis Zoo on May 12 to parents Kiri and Mofana. The sex of the baby is still not known, but zoo staff will determine the gender in the coming weeks.

According to Matt Thompson, Director of Animal Programs, “This is a species that needs a lot of help, so every birth is significant. Bonobos are still very rare in the wild and in captivity. They are a high conservation priority, and Mo and Kiri are a good genetic match.”

In the wild, bonobos inhabit the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. Currently, the IUCN has categorized bonobos as endangered. Civil war in the Congo has hugely impacted bonobo society, fragmenting their population to isolated pockets and limiting their genetic diversity.

To learn more about bonobos, see our bonobo facts article.

Featured Animal: Bonobo

Posted on April 1, 2013 by admin

Meet our featured animal, the bonobo!

Here are five facts about bonobos:

Bonobos share 98.5% of our DNA.
In captivity, bonobos have learned how to communicate in human languages, use tools, and play music.
Although they resemble chimpanzees, bonobos have the ability to walk bipedally, or on two legs, more easily and for longer amounts of time than chimps.
Bonobos live harmoniously in matriarchal groups of up to 100 members.
Bonobos communicate with high-pitched barking sounds.

Learn more about bonobos >