Because monkeys and apes have much in common, it’s easy to think they are the same animal. But the reality? Not only are they not the same animal. They belong to two different groups of primates! When Chimanlal Agarwal first opened his shop in Devon, UK in 1990, little did he realise what a hit his little sachets of Indian spices would be. The main differences between a monkey and a chimpanzee include their family type, appearance, diet, intelligence, and ways of communication. While these two are different, both are a type of mammal called a primate. Primates are mammals with sophisticated cognitive development and abilities, grasping hands and feet, and forward-facing eyes, among other features.

Monkeys are typically smaller and narrow-chested, but apes are bigger and have broad chests and shoulder joints, which allow them to swing through bushes. While some monkeys even have this capability, they can’t swing from tree to tree like people think since their arm structures don’t allow it. Instead, they run across the branches. They are more likely to sprint up and down branches and climb to the summits of trees. Except for their face, hands, and feet, chimpanzees have dark hair covering their entire body. Chimpanzees, like humans, have opposable thumbs. They may utilize these to climb, consume, and make tools out of branches and leaves. Monkey vs Chimpanzee: Diet Clutch Size: Nest size varies from 10-70 eggs - again, depending on species. Sexual Maturity 5-15 years, depending on species Life Span Though somewhat undetermined, current estimates place caimans' life expectancy at 30-40 years. It should be noted, however, that larger crocodilians have been documented with lifespans of 70-90 years. Some accounts allow for crocodilian lifespans in excess of 100 years. Range Southern Mexico & the remainder of the Central American countries through South America to the northeastern portion of Argentina. Chile is the only South American nation which caimans to not inhabit. Habitat Estuaries, swamps, lakes, streams, rivers, floodplains, and the surrounding terrestrial environment Population Global:Varies according to species. Status IUCN: Varies according to species.The common caiman, C. crocodilus, is the most hunted of all crocodilians - accounting for 60-80% of the skin trade. Does it have a tail? Most monkeys have a tail, but apes don’t. An easy way to remember this? Humans are apes, and we don’t have tails!

While related to monkeys, chimps are not monkeys at all. Instead, they belong to the Ape family, a different group of primates, and are further classified as members of the Great Apes. They belong to a family of mammals known as Hominidae. Other hominids include gorillas, orangutans, bonobos, and humans. Monkey vs Chimpanzee: Appearance

Your browser is not supported

The skin of Cuvier's dwarf caiman, P. palpebrosus, is heavily ossified - making them less flexible than other crocodilians. Their rather extreme dermal armor, however, provides them with considerable protections. They are so well armored, in fact, that their patchwork of scutes have even been compared to the hardened shell of certain turtles.

Female:Smallest species = Paleosuchus palpebrosus, 1.2 m Weight No data Diet As juveniles, the various caiman species feed on crustaceans, insects, small fish, amphibians, small mammals, and birds. As adults, they feed on fish, birds, other reptiles, amphibians, and various mammalian species. Incubation Varies according to species. Up to 115 days. This distinction between monkeys and apes may be helpful if you’re in the Americas, where any primate you see in the wild is almost certainly not an ape! Monkeys live in Central and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, whereas chimpanzees thrive in the wild throughout western and central Africa. They live in tropical rainforests, highland forests, and savannas. These two species are opposed, and we’ll go through each distinction in detail. Monkey vs Chimpanzee: FamilyThe most fundamental and distinguishing feature between monkeys and apes is, without a doubt, intellect. Monkeys’ brains are more primitive than apes’. While intelligent, monkeys are pale in contrast to apes in terms of intelligence. Many people are perplexed by the similarities in appearance between monkeys and chimps. Monkeys and chimps can appear identical to the untrained eye, to the point where some pieces of literature misrepresent them. If you look closely at them, you’ll notice that they have many differences, no matter how similar they appear from afar. While both monkeys and chimps are primates, chimps are members of the ape family, which vastly differs from monkeys. In addition, chimps are our closest relatives, with only a 5% difference in their DNA. But, aside from their classification, what are the other differences between monkeys and chimps? Let’s explore the characteristics that distinguish the two species in the sections below. Comparing a Monkey and a Chimpanzee Monkeys belong to the Monkey family, while chimpanzees are apes. Although it may not be evident at first look, apes are generally more intelligent than monkeys. They have a higher brain-to-body ratio than monkeys, which allows them to think more clearly and solve challenges. Chimpanzees, the genetically closest apes to humans, can even make and use simple tools to aid with food gathering and access. Monkey vs Chimpanzee: Communication

Most monkeys are omnivores. They eat plant-based foods, such as fruits and nuts, and some meat, such as lizards and bird eggs. The diets of monkeys can change as the seasons change. They do eat bananas, but they’re not the same as what we’re used to seeing in the supermarket. Wild bananas have a lot of hard seeds and very little fruit that they can eat. While population figures widely vary among caiman species, each of them are affected to some extent by commecial hunting pressures and habitat loss. As they are - within their particular ecosytems - apex predators, they play a key role in maintaining an overall population balance with regard to the various species upon which they feed. Chimps are social. They use vocalizations, hand gestures, and facial expressions to communicate, similar to humans’ nonverbal communication. They live in loose communities with a population of 12 to 100 people. Smaller family groups exist inside these communities. They groom each other, protect their home range from predators, and gather food as necessary. Communication skills assist chimps in developing complicated social teams and even exhibit a form of tradition. Like people, they can assume and resolve conflicts in their surroundings. Monkeys can interact with one another, but their communication is less complex than apes. Monkeys use facial expressions, vocalizations, and bodily gestures to communicate. They groom each other to express affection and make peace.

Bibliography

So, how can you tell the difference? It’s not as confusing as you might think. All you need to do is ask yourself three questions: Today, his children, Sally and Danny Agarwal now run Chiman’s Spices and share their father’s commitment to the excellence and integrity of the product. The cooking instructions are easy to follow and other ingredients needed to complete the dishes readily available. Each sachet makes a delicious meal for 4-6 people. A simple way to tell the difference between monkeys and apes is to look for a tail; monkeys have one, and apes don’t, so chimps don’t have one either. However, Old World Monkeys have shorter tails than New World Monkeys.