The scientific name for apes, which belong to the family Hominidae, varies depending on the specific type of ape.
For example, the great apes include:
- Humans: Homo sapiens
- Chimpanzees: Pan troglodytes
- Bonnobos: Pan paniscus
- Gorillas: Gorilla (with two species: Gorilla gorilla for the Western gorilla and Gorilla berengei for the Eastern gorilla)
- Orangutans: Pongo (with three species: Pongo pygmaeus for the Bornean orangutan, Pongo abelii for the Sumatran orangutan, and Pongo tapanuliensis for the Tapanuli orangutan)
In general, the term ‘apes’ refers to the members of the Hominidae family, which are characterized by their lack of tails and their more flexible shoulder joints, allowing them greater mobility in trees. This classification helps in understanding their evolution and biology in relation to other primates.