Pongidae
| Definition: |
A family of Primates consisting of three genera: Pongo (PONGO PYGMAEUS), Pan (PAN TROGLODYTES and PAN PANISCUS), and Gorilla (GORILLA GORILLA). They inhabit forests in southeast Asia, equatorial Africa, Sumatra, and Borneo. The members of this family are the closest living relatives of man. |
| Notes: |
GEN or unspecified: prefer ORANGUTAN see PONGO PYGMAEUS; CHIMPANZEE see PAN TROGLODYTES; BONOBO see PAN PANISCUS; or GORILLA GORILLA; IM; qualif permitted; Manual 22.28; Celebes black ape is not an ape: it is CELEBES APE see MACACA; diseases = APE DISEASE |
Pongidae Categories.
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Gorilla gorilla - This single species of Gorilla, which is a member of the PONGIDAE family, is the largest and most powerful of the Primates. It is distributed in isolated scattered populations throughout forests of equatorial Africa. |
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Pan paniscus - The pygmy chimpanzee, a species of the genus Pan, family PONGIDAE. Its common name is Bonobo, which was once considered a separate genus by some; others considered it a subspecies of PAN TROGLODYTES. Its range is confined to the forests of the central Zaire basin. Despite its name, it is often of equal size to P. troglodytes. |
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Pan troglodytes - The common chimpanzee, a species of the genus Pan, family PONGIDAE. It lives in Africa, primarily in the tropical rainforests. There are a number of recognized subspecies. |
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Pongo pygmaeus - A single genus and species of orangutan belonging to the PONGIDAE family and found only in lowland forests of Sumatra and Borneo. Among the primates, the orangutan is second in size only to the gorilla. |
Pongidae Definitions and Terms
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