Can Humans Be Considered Apes?

[keith99]

I've adressed this before, but I thought it was worth bringing up again.



There are many basics things that apes share, that are not true of humans:


Apes have muscular and skeletal features suited for brachation as a major or important source of locomotion. This is not true of humans.

Apes have pelvises structured to walk on all fours. This is not true of humans.

Apes have arms longer than thier legs. This is not true of humans.

Apes have feet structured for grasping, very much like hands. This is not so with humans.

Male apes have penis bones. This is not so with humans.

Apes also have larger jaws; but the biggest difference is that ape jaws portrude much further away from the face than humans. Another big skeletal difference.




So with all these differences, can humans really be considered apes?

NOTE: I'm NOT disputing whether or not humans and apes have common ancestry. The point being made, is that humans have branched off to far on the evolutionary tree to be considered apes.

Do any other mammals have any appendage structured for grasping. Does any other living thing we know of have the opposable thumb?

In this apes and men are much more alike than different.

Come to think of it arms and legs is pretty much a man/ape thing. Would anyone think of cats, dogs, cows, horses, lizards or rats as having arms and legs?

 

[Bombila]

You might have to consider raccoons as having 'arms'. Although I've never seen one practice bipedalism in terms of walking, they use their forelegs a lot to manipulate objects.

 

[ranmaonehalf]

what no mention of the pandas thumb?