* Primates: The broadest category that includes all of them.
* Hominoids: This group includes apes (humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, gibbons), but not monkeys.
* Hominids: This group includes humans and their extinct ancestors, like Australopithecus.
Key Points:
* Humans ARE apes. We belong to the Hominoid family.
* Monkeys are NOT apes. They belong to a different group within primates called "monkeys."
* "Ape" is not a synonym for "monkey."
Using the right terms is important because:
* It reflects accurate evolutionary relationships.
* It avoids misleading or inaccurate generalizations.
Instead of trying to find a single term, be specific:
* "Primates" if you want to refer to the whole order.
* "Apes" if you're talking about humans and their closest relatives.
* "Monkeys" if you're referring to the separate group of primates.