Great apes:

• Largest of all primates
• Arms are longer than legs and can locomote using all four limbs simultaneously (except humans—legs longer than arms and exclusively bipedal as adults)
• All have thumbs, although the degree of opposability of the thumb varies by species
• Have opposable big toes used for grasping and climbing (except humans)
• Have hair that is evenly distributed over the body
• Females have similar gestation lengths and adults provide care to offspring for many years before they are self-sufficient
• Capable of full shoulder rotation
• Distinct mental abilities compared to all other primates
• Gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos are native to Africa; orangutans are native to Asia; humans occur throughout most of the globe