Homo Sapiens and the Great Apes

Homo Sapiens and The Great Apes Imagine walking through the zoo and approaching the habitat of the great apes. Suddenly, you find yourself thinking about how different you are from these creatures. They can’t speak, they aren’t advanced, and don’t wear clothes. It is at this moment that you start to feel superior to these animals. Realizing this, you start to believe that you are in no way similar to these animals. This description is a common belief for most humans, the idea that we are in no way similar to the great apes. Though there are many biological and social differences between Homo Sapiens and the great apes, who are all members of the Hominoidea Infraorder, (a sub-classifaction of the primate order within the animal kingdom) there are also many similarities. When comparing Homo Sapiens and great apes, there is a lot to compare biologically. Humans differ from the great apes in a few ways. For instance, humans are bipedal (the ability to walk upright) while the great apes are quadrupedal (the ability to walk on all fours). Also, great apes have much more hair on their body, whereas Homo Sapiens have less hair. This allows Homo Sapiens to use sweat glands to regulate body temperature when running long distances, which was a direct result of bipedalism. Another way in which humans differ from the great apes is grip. Homo Sapiens have a much finer opposability in their thumbs, which allows for a finer pin point grip. The great apes have the ability for a pin point grip, but it’s not as evolved. The biological comparison also has many similarities. One example is the dental formula (the arrangement of teeth in a primate’s mouth). Both great apes and Homo Sapiens have a 2;1;2;3 dental formula. This means both have two incisors, one canine, two pre-molars, and three molars. This allows both species to partake in a varied diet. Another trait they share is forward facing eyes to allow depth perception. This is different than some other species that have eyes set on the lateral part of their skulls allowing them to watch out for predators. One more characteristic that the two species have in common is brain size. The great apes and Homo Sapiens have a much larger brain size compared to other primates, though Homo sapiens have a larger brain size to body ratio than other great apes. When comparing the great apes and Homo Sapiens, like the individual at the zoo, it is easy to recognize social differences in technology, material culture, and communication. But when observing the two species, one might notice the similarities. One similarity is the playful nature of both species. For example, both play chase with other members of the group, wrestle, and even have “tickle fights”. Affection is another social behavior they have in common. Both Homo Sapiens and chimps kiss and hug to show affection to one another. Also, both species groom each other. According to some primatologists, this behavior is used to strengthen social bonds within a troop of great apes. This behavior is also seen in Homo Sapiens, who, it could be argued, use grooming at times as a similar function. As stated above there are many differences as well as similarities between Homo Sapiens and the great apes. These similarities and differences consist of both biological traits and social behavior. Perhaps, the differences have to do with being a part of a different species, but they are similar because they are both part of the Hominoidea Infraorder. Along with the differences, when studying the similarities, perhaps one might recognize a fellow family member in the great ape house at the zoo.

Works Cited
Goodall, Jane. In the Shadow of Man. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1971. Print.
Larsen, Clark Spencer. Our Orgins Discovering Physical Anthropology. New York, London: W.W. Norton and Company, 2008. Print.
O’Neil, Dennis. “Humans.” Primates: The Taxonomy and General Characteristics of Prosimians,Monkeys, Apes, and Humans. Behavioral Sciences Department, Palomar College, 1998-2012. Web. 21 November 2012.

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[ 2 ]. Larsen, Clark Spencer. Our Orgins Discovering Physical Anthropology.( New York, London: W.W. Norton and Company, 2008). 168-9.
[ 3 ]. O’Neil, Dennis. “Humans.” Primates: The Taxonomy and General Characteristics of Prosimians,Monkeys, Apes, and Humans.Behavioral Sciences Department, Palomar College, 1998-2012.
[ 4 ]. O’Neil, Dennis. “Humans.” Primates: The Taxonomy and General Characteristics of Prosimians,Monkeys, Apes, and Humans.Behavioral Sciences Department, Palomar College, 1998-2012.
[ 5 ]. Larsen, Clark Spencer. Our Orgins Discovering Physical Anthropology.( New York, London: W.W. Norton and Company, 2008). 158
[ 6 ]. Larsen, Clark Spencer. Our Orgins Discovering Physical Anthropology.( New York, London: W.W. Norton and Company, 2008). 163
[ 7 ]. Larsen, Clark Spencer. Our Orgins Discovering Physical Anthropology.( New York, London: W.W. Norton and Company, 2008). 161
[ 8 ]. O’Neil, Dennis. “Humans.” Primates: The Taxonomy and General Characteristics of Prosimians,Monkeys, Apes, and Humans.Behavioral Sciences Department, Palomar College, 1998-2012.
[ 9 ]. Goodall, Jane. In the Shadow of Man. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1971). 117
[ 10 ]. Goodall, Jane. In the Shadow of Man. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1971). 222.

Cited: Goodall, Jane. In the Shadow of Man. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1971. Print. Larsen, Clark Spencer O’Neil, Dennis. “Humans.” Primates: The Taxonomy and General Characteristics of Prosimians,Monkeys, Apes, and Humans. Behavioral Sciences Department, Palomar College, 1998-2012. Web. 21 November 2012. [ 3 ]. O’Neil, Dennis. “Humans.” Primates: The Taxonomy and General Characteristics of Prosimians,Monkeys, Apes, and Humans.Behavioral Sciences Department, Palomar College, 1998-2012. [ 4 ]. O’Neil, Dennis. “Humans.” Primates: The Taxonomy and General Characteristics of Prosimians,Monkeys, Apes, and Humans.Behavioral Sciences Department, Palomar College, 1998-2012. [ 5 ]. Larsen, Clark Spencer. Our Orgins Discovering Physical Anthropology.( New York, London: W.W. Norton and Company, 2008). 158 [ 6 ] [ 7 ]. Larsen, Clark Spencer. Our Orgins Discovering Physical Anthropology.( New York, London: W.W. Norton and Company, 2008). 161 [ 8 ] [ 9 ]. Goodall, Jane. In the Shadow of Man. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1971). 117 [ 10 ]