Anthropoid apes and man are similarities and differences. Types and signs of modern great apes

Anthropoid apes (anthropomorphs, or hominoids) belong to the superfamily of prickly primate primates. These include, in particular, two families: hominids and gibbons. The structure of the body of the prickly primate is similar to the human. This similarity of man and anthropoid apes is the main one, allowing them to be attributed to one taxon.

Evolution

For the first time the great apes appeared at the end of the Oligocene in the Old World. It was about thirty million years ago. Among the ancestors of these primates, the most primitive gibbon-like individuals are known - propliopithecus, from the tropics of Egypt. It was from them further emerged driopithecines, gibbons and pliopithecines. In the Miocene, a dramatic increase in the number and variety of species of the great apes then existed. In that era, active dispersal of driopithecines and other hominoids across Europe and Asia was noted. Among the Asians were the predecessors of orangutans. According to the data of molecular biology, man and anthropoid apes were divided into two trunks about 8-6 million years ago.

Finding Fossils

The oldest known anthropoid are considered to be corvakiteks, kamoyapithecas, moroproteins, limnopithecines, Ugandapithecus and ramapithecines. Some scientists hold the opinion that modern anthropoid apes are descendants of the parapita. But this point of view has insufficient justification due to the scarcity of the remains of the latter. As a relic hominoid, we mean a mythical being - a snowman.

Description of primates

Anthropoid apes have a larger body than a marmoset. Scabby primates do not have a tail, ischial calluses (there are small ones in gibbons only), cheek pouches. A characteristic feature of hominoids is the way they move. Instead of moving on all the limbs along the branches, they move under the branches mainly on their hands. This method of movement is called brachy. Adaptation to its use has provoked some anatomical changes: more flexible and long arms, a flattened thorax along an anteroposterior direction. All anthropoid apes are able to stand on the hindlimbs, while freeing the forelegs. For all types of hominoids, developed facial expressions, the ability to think and analyze.

The difference between man and the great apes

Prickly primate have much more hair that covers almost the entire body, except for small areas. Despite the similarity of human and anthropoid apes to the structure of the skeleton, the hands of humans are not so developed and are much shorter. In this case the legs of the prickly primate are less developed, weaker and shorter. Anthropoid apes move easily through trees. Often individuals swing on branches. During walking, as a rule, all limbs are used. Some individuals prefer a way to move "walking on the fists." In this case, the mass of the body is transferred to the fingers, which are gathered into a fist. Differences between human and anthropoid apes appear also in the level of intelligence. Despite the fact that the locust beetles are considered to be one of the most intelligent primates, their mental inclinations are not as developed as in humans. However, almost all have the ability to learn.

Habitat

Anthropoid apes inhabit the tropical forests of Asia and Africa. For all the existing species of primates, its habitat and way of life are characteristic. Chimpanzees, for example, dwarf ones, live on the ground and on trees. These representatives of primates are distributed in the forests of Africa of almost all types and in 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 plains - are more common in humid African forests, and mountain species prefer a forest with a temperate climate. These primates infrequently climb trees in view of their massive nature and spend on the ground almost all the time. The gorillas live in groups, and the number of members changes constantly. Orangutans, on the contrary, singles, as a rule. They inhabit swampy and damp forests, climb trees perfectly, from branches to branches, they move somewhat slowly, but fairly cleverly. Their hands are very long - they reach the very ankles.

Speech

Since ancient times, people have sought to establish contact with animals. Many scientists were involved in the teaching of great apes of speech. However, the work did not yield the expected results. Primates can only produce individual sounds that are not very similar to words, and vocabulary is generally very limited, especially when compared to talking parrots. The point is that in the oral cavity there are no certain sound-forming elements in the organs corresponding to the human in the prickly primate. This explains the inability of individuals to develop the skills of pronouncing modulated sounds. 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 "eee", passionate desire is manifested by puffing, threat or fear - a piercing, sharp cry. One individual learns the mood of the other, looks at the expression of emotions, adopting these or other manifestations. To convey any information as the main mechanisms are facial expressions, gestures, posture. Given this, the researchers tried to start talking with monkeys using the sign language that deaf people use. Young monkeys quickly learn signs. After a fairly short period of time people had the opportunity to talk with animals.

Perception of the beautiful

Researchers not without pleasure noted that monkeys are very fond of drawing. In this case, primates will act reasonably neatly. If you give a monkey a paper, a brush and paints, then in the process of imageing something, she will try not to go beyond the edge of the sheet. In addition, animals skillfully divide the plane of paper into several parts. Many scientists consider the pictures of primates to be amazingly dynamic, rhythmic, full of harmony both in color and in form. More than once it was possible to show the work of animals at art exhibitions. Researchers of the behavior of primates note that monkeys have an aesthetic sense, although it manifests itself in rudimentary form. For example, watching animals that lived in the wild, they saw how the individuals sat during the sunset on the forest edge and enchanted watching the sunset.