Comments On: I know it's dumb, but what is the diff between apes and monkeys?

Monkeys have tails and Apes do not
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Monkeys have tails and Apes do not
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There has been a lot of scientific discussion about that subject. Believe me, it is not a "dumb" question.
The accepted theory is that Yes, Apes have no tail...and Monkeys have a tail from tiny to long, and from prehensile to straight. But there are other considerations, as well.
Some professionals use the classification, believe it or not, that Apes have the ability to recognize themselves in a mirror and monkeys do not.
I have found this to be not true. Many species of monkey does, indeed, relate to the image in the mirror as themselves.
Some professionals use scientific classifications such as the number of teeth and the shape of the skull.
And as for the "Tail" thing, I have a personal opinion about that. There is a species of monkey, the most widespread and diversified on the planet, called "Macaque". Some macaques have long tails, some have short tails, and some have NO tail at all...not even a visible stump.
One large macaque on the Barbary Coast of Africa is commonly referred to as the "Barbary Ape"...though they have short tails.
Macaques are, arguably, some of the Most intelligent monkeys, and many have been observed "recognizing" themselves in the mirror....not just a strange macaque.
Though I have contacted many professionals, I have never received a
satisfying answer to the question you posed.
ARE YOU CONFUSED YET????

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apes are normally bigger and more intellagent than monkeys.
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The true difference between apes and monkeys lies not in behavioural traits such as recognition in a mirror or intelligence level. It also has very little to do with physical characterisitics such as number of teeth or presence of a tail. Here is the correct scientific distinction between monkeys and apes. You may be surprised at how simple it is.
Apes are hominoids, monkeys are simians. So what are hominoids and simians you ask? Hominoids and simians are two taxonomically distinct groups of species whose evoluiotnary lineages split quite a few million years ago. Fossil records of the time during which these lineages were splitting are sometimes difficult to classify as either hominoids or as simians or as species which existed before or persisted after the split. In terms of species currently living today, however, the distinction is very simple and there is next to no argument over which species are hominoids and which are simians. The pro-simian distinctions (lemurs, pottos, tarsiers etc.) is a little more sketchy but that's another story.
In order to tell which species have emerged from which lineage scientists often use parameters such as physical or behavioural traits to determine evolutionary relationships. Known as cladistics, this is a very interesting field of study. Short of doing in depth studies of the cladistics of monkeys and apes, the best way to distinguish between them is simply to learn which is which and to be familiar with certain traits which can be used as indicators, but remember when using traits there always exceptions to the rule.

Great Apes: gorillas, orang utans, chimpanzees, bonobos (large body size, dependance upon vision rather than smell, arms marginally longer than legs, no tail)

Lesser Apes: gibbons, siamangs (small body size, arms much longer than legs, move by brachiation in the trees and often bipedally on the ground, incredibly rotatable shoulder joints, thumb on forelimb reduced and not used in brachiation)

Old World Monkeys: macaques, baboons, mandrills, etc (non-prehensile tail, downward pointing nostrils, found in Africa, Asia)

New World Monkeys: spider monkeys, marmosets, tamarins, colobus etc. (outward flaring nostrils, prehensile tail, found in the Americas|)
Lesser Apes: gibbons, siamangs
Old World Monkeys
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The true difference between apes and monkeys lies not in behavioural traits such as recognition in a mirror or intelligence level. It also has very little to do with physical characterisitics such as number of teeth or presence of a tail. Here is the correct scientific distinction between monkeys and apes. You may be surprised at how simple it is.
Apes are hominoids, monkeys are simians. So what are hominoids and simians you ask? Hominoids and simians are two taxonomically distinct groups of species whose evoluiotnary lineages split quite a few million years ago. Fossil records of the time during which these lineages were splitting are sometimes difficult to classify as either hominoids or as simians or as species which existed before or persisted after the split. In terms of species currently living today, however, the distinction is very simple and there is next to no argument over which species are hominoids and which are simians. The pro-simian distinctions (lemurs, pottos, tarsiers etc.) is a little more sketchy but that's another story.
In order to tell which species have emerged from which lineage scientists often use parameters such as physical or behavioural traits to determine evolutionary relationships. Known as cladistics, this is a very interesting field of study. Short of doing in depth studies of the cladistics of monkeys and apes, the best way to distinguish between them is simply to learn which is which and to be familiar with certain traits which can be used as indicators, but remember when using traits there always exceptions to the rule.

Great Apes: gorillas, orang utans, chimpanzees, bonobos (large body size, dependance upon vision rather than smell, arms marginally longer than legs, no tail)

Lesser Apes: gibbons, siamangs (small body size, arms much longer than legs, move by brachiation in the trees and often bipedally on the ground, incredibly rotatable shoulder joints, thumb on forelimb reduced and not used in brachiation)

Old World Monkeys: macaques, baboons, mandrills, etc (non-prehensile tail, downward pointing nostrils, found in Africa, Asia)

New World Monkeys: spider monkeys, marmosets, tamarins, colobus etc. (outward flaring nostrils, prehensile tail, found in the Americas|)
Lesser Apes: gibbons, siamangs
Old World Monkeys
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The true difference between apes and monkeys lies not in behavioural traits such as recognition in a mirror or intelligence level. It also has very little to do with physical characterisitics such as number of teeth or presence of a tail. Here is the correct scientific distinction between monkeys and apes. You may be surprised at how simple it is.
Apes are hominoids, monkeys are simians. So what are hominoids and simians you ask? Hominoids and simians are two taxonomically distinct groups of species whose evoluiotnary lineages split quite a few million years ago. Fossil records of the time during which these lineages were splitting are sometimes difficult to classify as either hominoids or as simians or as species which existed before or persisted after the split. In terms of species currently living today, however, the distinction is very simple and there is next to no argument over which species are hominoids and which are simians. The pro-simian distinctions (lemurs, pottos, tarsiers etc.) is a little more sketchy but that's another story.
In order to tell which species have emerged from which lineage scientists often use parameters such as physical or behavioural traits to determine evolutionary relationships. Known as cladistics, this is a very interesting field of study. Short of doing in depth studies of the cladistics of monkeys and apes, the best way to distinguish between them is simply to learn which is which and to be familiar with certain traits which can be used as indicators, but remember when using traits there always exceptions to the rule.

Great Apes: gorillas, orang utans, chimpanzees, bonobos (large body size, dependance upon vision rather than smell, arms marginally longer than legs, no tail)

Lesser Apes: gibbons, siamangs (small body size, arms much longer than legs, move by brachiation in the trees and often bipedally on the ground, incredibly rotatable shoulder joints, thumb on forelimb reduced and not used in brachiation)

Old World Monkeys: macaques, baboons, mandrills, etc (non-prehensile tail, downward pointing nostrils, found in Africa, Asia)

New World Monkeys: spider monkeys, marmosets, tamarins, colobus etc. (outward flaring nostrils, prehensile tail, found in the Americas|)
Lesser Apes: gibbons, siamangs
Old World Monkeys
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