Spotlight on Nature

Age range 8 to 10 Gorillas belong to the group of mammals called primates. These are animals with highly developed brains and gripping hands. Gorillas and their closest relatives -- chimpanzees, orangutans and humans -- are great apes. These primates have the largest brains. Monkeys and prosimians are also primates. They have tails, snouts and smaller brains. All apes and most other primates have five toes on each foot and four fingers and a thumb on each hand. This allows them to hold and control objects. Primates have fingernails and toenails instead of claws.