Ape

Historical terminology

Ape (Old Eng. apa; Dutch aap; Old Ger. affo; Welsh epa; Old Bohemian op) is a word of uncertain origin and is possibly an imitation of the animal's chatter. The term has a history of rather imprecise usage. Its earliest meaning was a tailless (and therefore exceptionally human-like) non-human primate, but as zoological knowledge developed it became clear that taillessness occurred in a number of different and otherwise unrelated species.

Related Topics:
Zoological - Species

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The original usage of "ape" in English may have referred to the baboon, an African monkey. Two tailless species of macaque are commonly named as apes, the Barbary Ape of North Africa (introduced into Gibraltar), Macaca sylvanus, and the Sulawesi Black Ape or Sulawesi Crested Macaque, M. niger.

Related Topics:
Baboon - Africa - Monkey - Macaque - Barbary Ape - Gibraltar - Sulawesi Crested Macaque

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~