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Hominoidea:
Apes are the members of the Hominoidea superfamily of primates, which includes humans. Under current classification, there are two families of hominoids:
the family Hylobatidae consists of 4 genera and 12 species of gibbons, including the Lar Gibbon and the Siamang, collectively known as the "lesser apes” the family Hominidae consisting of gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and humans, collectively known as the "great apes”. A few other primates have the word "ape" in their common names, but they are not regarded as true apes by most authorities. Except for gorillas and humans, all true apes are agile climbers of trees. They are best described as omnivorous, their diet consisting of fruit, grass seeds, and in most cases some quantities of meat and invertebrates—either hunted or scavenged—along with anything else available and easily digested. They are native to Africa and Asia, although humans have spread to all parts of the world. Most ape species are rare or endangered. The chief threat to most of the endangered species is loss of tropical rainforest habitat, though some populations are further imperiled by hunting for bushmeat. |
