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Quizzes > Science

Ape Quiz: Test Your Primate Knowledge

Quick, free primate knowledge quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Ben ApocUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper cut art featuring stylized chimpanzees gorillas and free ape trivia quiz title on coral background

This ape quiz helps you check your knowledge of chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. Answer quick questions on behavior, tools, and calls, then see your score and explore more with our monkey quiz, endangered animals quiz, or a broader animal trivia quiz. You might learn a few cool facts along the way.

Which of these is NOT an ape?
Gibbon
Spider monkey
Gorilla
Chimpanzee
Spider monkeys are New World monkeys, not apes. Apes belong to the superfamily Hominoidea and include gibbons, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. Monkeys typically have tails, which apes lack. .
Which feature do apes lack that monkeys have?
Tail
Fur
Opposable thumbs
Large brains
Apes lack tails, which is a key characteristic distinguishing them from monkeys. Both groups have fur, opposable thumbs, and relatively large brains. .
Which species is the largest living ape?
Chimpanzee
Bonobo
Western lowland gorilla
Eastern gorilla
Eastern gorillas (Gorilla beringei) are the largest living apes, with adult males reaching up to 220 kg. Western lowland gorillas are slightly smaller. Chimpanzees and bonobos are much smaller in comparison. .
Which ape is native to Borneo and Sumatra?
Orangutan
Gibbon
Bonobo
Gorilla
Orangutans live only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia. Bonobos are found in the Congo Basin. Gorillas are native to Africa, and gibbons live in various parts of Asia. .
What is a group of gorillas called?
Herd
Band
Crash
Troop
A group of gorillas is commonly called a troop or a band. 'Herd' typically refers to hoofed mammals, and 'crash' is used for rhinoceroses. .
Which great ape is our closest living relative?
Orangutan
Chimpanzee
Gorilla
Bonobo
Genetic studies show that chimpanzees share about 98.7% of their DNA with humans, making them our closest living relatives. Bonobos are a close second but slightly more distantly related. .
What color eyes do most gibbons have?
Blue
Brown
Green
Yellow
Most gibbons have brown eyes, which is common among primates. Blue or green eyes are extremely rare in non-human apes. .
Which ape is known for using leaves as gloves or napkins when handling food?
Chimpanzee
Orangutan
Bonobo
Gorilla
Chimpanzees have been observed using leaves as makeshift gloves or napkins when handling prickly fruits or muddy food. This demonstrates their tool-use and problem-solving skills. .
What is the scientific name of the common chimpanzee?
Pongo pygmaeus
Gorilla gorilla
Pan paniscus
Pan troglodytes
The common chimpanzee is scientifically known as Pan troglodytes. Pan paniscus refers to the bonobo, Gorilla gorilla to the western gorilla, and Pongo pygmaeus to the Bornean orangutan. .
Which great ape species is known for knuckle-walking?
Orangutan
Gibbon
Bonobo
Gorilla
Gorillas and chimpanzees use knuckle-walking as their primary mode of terrestrial locomotion, pressing their knuckles against the ground. Orangutans are mostly arboreal, and gibbons are specialized brachiators. .
What type of diet do chimpanzees have?
Herbivore
Frugivore
Omnivore
Carnivore
Chimpanzees are omnivores, eating fruits, leaves, insects, and occasionally small mammals. Frugivores eat primarily fruit, herbivores eat plants, and carnivores eat meat exclusively. .
Which ape species has the longest gestation period?
Western gorilla
Gibbon
Orangutan
Bonobo
Orangutans have one of the longest gestation periods among apes, averaging about 8.5 months. Western gorillas and chimpanzees have slightly shorter gestation periods, around 8 months. .
Bonobos are native to which region?
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Malaysia
India
Brazil
Bonobos are found only in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, south of the Congo River. They are not native to Brazil, Malaysia, or India. .
Which great ape uses sticks to fish for termites?
Chimpanzee
Gorilla
Orangutan
Gibbon
Chimpanzees have been observed using sticks or twigs to fish termites out of mounds, showcasing advanced tool use. Other apes do not commonly use tools in this way. .
What is the average lifespan of a gorilla in the wild?
20 - 25 years
50 - 60 years
10 - 15 years
35 - 40 years
Wild gorillas typically live between 35 and 40 years. Captive individuals sometimes live longer, but 10 - 15 or 50 - 60 years are outside the usual wild range. .
What role does a silverback play in gorilla society?
Infant caregiver
Young female protector
Juvenile playmate
Adult male leader of the group
A silverback is an adult male gorilla with a distinctive band of silver hair on his back. He leads and protects the troop. Females, juveniles, and infants do not assume that leadership role. .
Which non-human ape has the highest brain-to-body mass ratio?
Chimpanzee
Gibbon
Gorilla
Orangutan
Among non-human apes, chimpanzees have the highest brain-to-body mass ratio, which correlates with their complex cognitive abilities. Gibbons and orangutans have lower ratios, while gorillas have the largest body size but a smaller ratio. .
Which gibbon species is renowned for its loud, complex calls?
White-handed gibbon
Siamang
Lar gibbon
Hoolock gibbon
The siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) is famous for its powerful, resonant calls that can carry for kilometers through the rainforest. Other gibbon species call but not as loudly. .
Which ape species consumes significant amounts of tree bark as part of its diet?
Chimpanzee
Orangutan
Bonobo
Gibbon
Orangutans supplement their fruit-based diet with bark, especially during seasons when fruit is scarce. Chimpanzees and bonobos focus more on fruit and leaves, while gibbons rarely eat bark. .
How many chromosomes do most apes have compared to humans?
Two more
Four more
The same number
Two fewer
Most great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans) have 48 chromosomes, two more than humans' 46. This difference arose from a fusion event in human chromosome history. .
Which tool use observed in wild orangutans suggests cultural variation?
Snowball throwing
Leaf gloves to handle spiny fruits
Stone anvils for cracking nuts
Shell fishing for freshwater shrimp
Some orangutan populations fashion 'leaf gloves' to protect their hands when handling spiny or prickly fruits, a behavior that varies by region and suggests cultural transmission. Stone anvils and snowball throwing are not seen in orangutans. .
Bonobo societies are often described as matriarchal. What does 'matriarchal' imply?
Males form the ruling lineage
Females hold the highest social status
Both sexes share equal power
Only juveniles lead rituals
In matriarchal societies like those of bonobos, females often form alliances and exert more influence over group decisions and resource access than males. This contrasts with male-dominated (patriarchal) groups. .
Which virus is known to have a natural reservoir in chimpanzee populations?
Dengue virus
Influenza A
Zika virus
Ebola virus
Ebola virus outbreaks have been traced to reservoirs in wild chimpanzees and gorillas. Zika, influenza A, and dengue viruses have different primary reservoirs. .
Which hormone associated with social bonding is found at high levels in bonobos?
Adrenaline
Cortisol
Oxytocin
Testosterone
Bonobos display high levels of oxytocin during social interactions, which promotes bonding and cooperation. Cortisol is a stress hormone, adrenaline is for fight-or-flight, and testosterone is linked to aggression. .
The inability of humans and some apes to synthesize vitamin C is due to a mutation in which gene?
SRGAP2
FOXP2
GULO pseudogene
GAL3ST1
Humans, some apes, and guinea pigs cannot synthesize vitamin C because of a nonfunctional GULO (L-gulonolactone oxidase) pseudogene. This mutation occurred after our evolutionary split from other mammals. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Ape Classification -

    Identify key characteristics that distinguish chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans as you strengthen your comprehension of ape taxonomy in this fun ape trivia quiz.

  2. Recall Surprising Ape Facts -

    Memorize fascinating insights about primate behaviors, diets, and habitats to challenge your knowledge in our primate facts quiz.

  3. Compare Primate Behaviors -

    Analyze differences in social structures, communication styles, and tool use among the great apes to deepen your understanding of their unique behaviors.

  4. Apply Quiz Strategies -

    Use critical thinking and recall techniques to tackle fun ape trivia questions effectively and boost your performance on future learn about apes quizzes.

  5. Evaluate Personal Progress -

    Assess your quiz results to recognize strengths and pinpoint areas for further study, guiding your journey to become the ultimate ape aficionado.

  6. Engage with Expert Insights -

    Explore expert-level facts woven into the quiz to expand your knowledge beyond common ape trivia and discover new surprising ape facts.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Hominidae Family & Evolution -

    Apes belong to the Hominidae family, which includes gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and orangutans, distinguishing them from monkeys by their lack of tails and more complex brains. Use the mnemonic "Giant Chimps Bring Orangutans" (Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Bonobo, Orangutan) to remember the four great ape genera. Fossil records and genomic studies from institutions like the Smithsonian confirm apes diverged from Old World monkeys around 25 million years ago.

  2. Tool Use & Problem-Solving -

    Chimpanzees famously crack nuts with stone hammers and anvils, while orangutans fashion leaf gloves to handle spiny fruits, showcasing advanced problem-solving skills (Jane Goodall Institute). Observational research reports that chimp tool use can improve with age, indicating learning and culture. Remember "stones and bones" - tools in nature foster both survival and social traditions.

  3. Communication & Sign Language -

    Bonobo Kanzi and chimp Washoe learned over 200 signs in American Sign Language (ASL), revealing a capacity for symbolic communication (University of Nevada, Reno research). These apes demonstrate comprehension of syntax and can combine signs to express novel ideas. Think "signs speak" to recall that nonhuman primates can grasp aspects of human language.

  4. Conservation Status & Threats -

    The IUCN Red List classifies eastern gorillas and Bornean orangutans as Critically Endangered, mainly due to habitat loss, hunting, and the illegal wildlife trade. Conservation groups like WWF emphasize habitat corridors and anti-poaching patrols to reverse decline. Use the simple formula "3E = Endangered, Exploited, Ecosystem loss" to recall the main threats.

  5. Physical Adaptations & Locomotion -

    Apes exhibit brachiation - hand-over-hand swinging - enabled by their long arms, curved fingers, and robust shoulder joints, particularly in gibbons (Duke University Primate Anatomy Center). Gorillas and orangutans also show plantigrade knuckle-walking adaptations for terrestrial movement. Remember "Long arms swing, strong knuckles cling" to capture their dual movement styles.

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