Observable characteristics between humans and other Great Apes and exploring their physical

and behavioral characteristics

Physical characteristics of apes

Human beings are mammals, they mostly resemble the apes, and therefore, humans are counted as apes. Compared to other groups of animals, apes have distinct features. The features are- having a more complex and larger brain, having a different molar teeth, having no tail that protrudes externally, and the skeletal structure allows the arms to rotate freely around the shoulder bone. In addition, apes have a ribcage that shallows and widens the chest, and apes have an appendix. In the apes family, there are those apes that have smaller bodies and others have larger bodies. The humans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and the orang-utans are classified as the apes that have larger bodies. These larger apes are those whose brains are larger than the small apes and other groups of animals. In the group of larger apes, gorillas are the largest and the chimpanzees are the smallest ones. When compared, the chimpanzees are those that closely resemble humans (Blaxland, 2015; Associated Press, 2005).

Behavioral characteristics of the Great Apes

The group of larger apes is called Great Apes. Great Apes are found to share the same blood groups and therefore, they can donate blood to each other according to their blood groups. Great Apes catch common colds and when affected, they sniff and cough. Thus, during cold periods, the apes strive to keep warm. Great Apes cannot speak because of how their cavity, voice box are structured. Humans take time to learn how to speak. However, Great Apes have a way of communicating with each other. The apes also cannot swim. Some humans manage to swim by learning how to do it. Great Apes also have taboos. For instance, mating is not allowed between two that are closely related (Osterath, 2016).

References

Associated Press (2005). At London Zoo, Homo sapiens is just another primate species. Retrieved< https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/28/world/europe/at-london-zoo-homo-sapiens-is-just-another-primate-species.html>.

Blaxland, B. (2015). Humans are apes- ‘Great Apes’. Retrieved< https://australianmuseum.net.au/humans-are-apes-great-apes>.

Osterath, B. (2016). 10 facts you probably didn’t know about great apes. Retrieved< https://www.dw.com/en/10-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-great-apes/a-19189577>.