Anthropoid apes (anthropomorphids, or hominoids) belong to the superfamily of narrow-nosed primates. In particular, they include two families: hominids and gibbon. The body structure of narrow-nosed primates is similar to the human. This similarity of humans and anthropoid apes is the main one, allowing us to attribute them to one taxon.
Evolution
The first apes appeared at the end of the Oligocene in the Old World. That was about thirty million years ago. Among the ancestors of these primates, the most famous are the primitive gibbon-like individuals - propliopithecus, from the tropics of Egypt. It was from them that driopithecus, gibbons, and pliopithecus came forth. In the Miocene, there was a sharp increase in the number and diversity of species of then apes. In that era, there was an active resettlement of driopithecus and other hominoids throughout Europe and Asia. Among the Asian individuals were the predecessors of the orangutans. According to the data of molecular biology, man and anthropoid apes were divided into two trunks about 8-6 million years ago.
Fossil finds
The oldest known anthropoids are rukvapiteki, kamoyapiteki, morotopiteka, limnopithek, ugandapithek and ramapithek. Some scholars are of the opinion that modern apes are descendants of parapithecus. But this point of view has insufficient justification due to the few remains of the latter. As a relic hominoid, we mean a mythical creature - a bigfoot.
Description of primates
The apes have a larger body than the monkeys. Narrow-nosed primates do not have a tail, sciatic corns (there are small ones in gibbons only), cheek pouches. A characteristic feature of hominoids is the method of their movement. Instead of moving on all limbs along the branches, they move under the branches mainly on the hands. This method of transportation is called brachiation. Adaptation to its use provoked some anatomical changes: more flexible and long arms, a flattened chest in the anteroposterior direction. All anthropoid apes are able to stand on their hind limbs while freeing their forelimbs. All types of hominoids are characterized by developed facial expressions, the ability to think and analyze.
The difference between humans and apes
Narrow-nosed primates have significantly more hair that covers almost the entire body, with the exception of small areas. Despite the similarities between humans and anthropoid apes in the structure of the skeleton, people's hands are not so developed and have a significantly shorter length. At the same time, the legs of narrow-nosed primates are less developed, weaker and shorter. Anthropoid apes easily move through trees. Often individuals sway on the branches. During walking, as a rule, all limbs are used. Some individuals prefer the fist-walking method. In this case, body weight is transferred to the fingers, which are collected in a fist. The differences between humans and anthropoid apes are also manifested in the level of intelligence. Despite the fact that narrow-nosed individuals are considered one of the most intelligent primates, their mental inclinations are not as developed as in humans. However, almost everyone has the ability to learn.
Habitat
Anthropoid apes inhabit the rainforests of Asia and Africa. All existing species of primates are characterized by their habitat and lifestyle. Chimpanzees, for example, dwarf ones, live on land and in trees. These representatives of primates are common in the forests of Africa of almost all types and in the open savannahs. However, some species (bonobos, for example) are found only in the humid tropics of the Congo Basin. Gorilla subspecies: the eastern and western lowlands are more common in moist African forests, and mountain species prefer a temperate forest. These primates rarely climb trees in view of their massiveness and spend almost all the time on the ground. Gorillas live in groups, with the number of members changing constantly. Orangutans, on the contrary, are loners, as a rule. They inhabit swampy and humid forests, climb trees beautifully, they move from branch to branch somewhat slowly, but quite adroitly. Their hands are very long - they reach the very ankles.
Speech
Since ancient times, people have sought to establish contact with animals. Many scholars have been involved in the training of anthropoid apes. However, the work did not produce the expected results. Primates can only make single sounds that look a little like words, and the vocabulary as a whole is very limited, especially when compared to talking parrots. The fact is that in the oral cavity, narrow-nosed primates lack certain sound-forming elements in organs corresponding to human ones. This explains the inability of individuals to develop pronunciation skills for modulated sounds. The expression of their emotions is carried out by monkeys in different ways. So, for example, the call to pay attention to them - the sound of "uh", longing is manifested by panting, threat or fear - a piercing, sharp cry. One individual learns the mood of another, looks at the expression of emotions, adopting certain manifestations. To transmit any information, facial expressions, gestures, and posture are the main mechanisms. Given this, the researchers tried to start talking to monkeys using the sign language used by deaf and dumb people. Young monkeys quickly learn signs. After a fairly short period, people got the opportunity to talk with animals.
Perception of the beautiful
Researchers have noted with pleasure that monkeys are very fond of drawing. In this case, primates will act quite accurately. If you give the monkey paper, a brush and paints, then in the process of displaying something, she will try not to go beyond the edge of the sheet. In addition, animals quite skillfully divide the paper plane into several parts. Many scientists consider the paintings of primates amazingly dynamic, rhythmic, full of harmony both in color and in form. More than once managed to show the work of animals at art exhibitions. Researchers of the behavior of primates note that monkeys have an aesthetic feeling, although it manifests itself in its infancy. For example, watching the animals living in the wild, they saw how the individuals sat at the forest edge during sunset and watched the sunset enchanted .