Ape or Monkey - What’s the Difference?

3. Different Appearance

• Arms

How long are the arms? In great apes (and gibbons) the arms are longer than the legs. In other primates, they are the same length or shorter.

• Tail

Which primate species have a tail? Great apes don't have one, but many other primates do. The tail helps them keep their balance as they jump from branch to branch.

Gibbon (Ape)

Gibbon - Photo: Andreas Gradin/Shutterstock

Tarsier (Monkey)

Tarsier - Photo: haveseen/Shutterstock

• Table of Contents
• 0. Introduction
• 1. Size and Weight
• 2. Which Primates Can Swing?
• 3. Anatomy and Appearance
• 4. Which Primates Can Walk?
• 5. Which Primates Use Tools?
• 6. Summary