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Tue 2 Dec, 2003 07:12 am
I learned a long time ago that the four great apes were gorillas, orang-utans, chimpanzees, and gibbons. I later learned that a subspecies of chimpanzee was the bonobo.
Last night I was watching something on Animal Planet. The information provided was that the four great apes were gorillas, chimpanzees, orang-utans, and bonobos. What happened to gibbons? Have they been reclassified? Are bonobos a separate species from chimps? Is Animal Planet dispensing incorrect information? Or am I the one with the incorrect info?
I find gibbons a little second-rate, myself - but please do not tell them so...
Phoenix, Thanks for the link. It has the same categories as Animal Planet. But are the categories correct? I checked out a few gibbon sites. Each of them refers to gibbons as apes. I'm so confused.
Deb, There's a gibbon exhibit at the Bronx Zoo--Gibbon Island. A group of gibbons living on an island in the Bronx River. I'm gonna race up to the Bronx and tell 'em what you said.
Heehee - the almost-great ape? The also-ran ape? The second-rate ape?
How do you get to be an ape and not a monkey, anyway?
A lesser ape...hmmm....how depressing....
It seems then that the gibbon, who mates for life, is a lesser ape. Hmmm....what does that say about humanity?
Anyway, what IS this about mating for life?
For doing this you oughta get to be an Ur-ape?
Let's hear it for polyandry!
dlowan- Polyandry. That is a cheerful thought. One for....................
That will be six for the goose, thankee...never on Sunday...
Hey Phoenix, When was the last time you were at the Bronx Zoo. Somehow it just keeps getting better and better.
Lesser ape, but still an ape--not a monkey. I do think that gibbons are being unfairly discriminated against. Gibbons may be smaller than the other apes, but they are phenomenal acrobats. Amazingly agile. I love Gibbon Island.
What about bonobos? Are they a separate species?
My first time in the Science and Math forum and what do I get? Naked apes. Polyandry. Where are the scientists?
Here is something scientific, all about the Equitorius...it's a genus and all:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/08/990831080717.htm
Muy interesante, Cav. But not the answer to my question. I'm gonna poke around the Web myself.
Thanks for trying. I appreciate it.
Roberta- I have not been to the zoo since I moved from NY 10 years ago. I loved that zoo. Used to go 3-4 times a year.
When I make my annual trip to NY this summer, I am going to make it my business to go to the zoo!
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