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Glite Dictionary
Pongidae

Pongidae

9.9
A former group of great apes including orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees and sometimes gibbons
  • noun
  • /ˈpɒŋɡɪdeɪ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : Pongidae
  • Many older textbooks classify great apes in the family Pongidae rather than Hominidae.

Examples

  • Taxonomic changes have moved chimpanzees from Pongidae to the family Hominidae.

  • With the advent of molecular genetics, the classification of Pongidae was re-evaluated.

  • The Pongidae family includes species like the orangutan.

  • Many scientists study the Pongidae to understand evolution.

  • Many older textbooks classify great apes in the family Pongidae rather than Hominidae.

  • Taxonomic changes have moved chimpanzees from Pongidae to the family Hominidae.

  • The family Pongidae includes species like the orangutan.

Synonyms

family Pongidae
vsPongidae
  • Archaic
9.8

An old scientific name for great apes like orangutans, gorillas and chimpanzees, sometimes including gibbons

is identical in meaning but written without the group label

Compounds

family Pongidae
  • Archaic
9.8

An old scientific name for great apes like orangutans, gorillas and chimpanzees, sometimes including gibbons

Surface Forms

Pongidae singular
Pongidaes plural

Morphology

Pongidae = Pongo (opaque) = Pongo + idae

Formed from the genus name 'Pongo' plus the scientific family suffix '-idae'; this taxonomic formation is not transparent to average learners unfamiliar with biological nomenclature.

Etymology

Pongidae comes from the scientific genus Pongo, the orangutan, plus the ending -idae, a common ending meaning 'family' in animal names. So Pongidae literally meant the 'family' of Pongo and was used for the great apes.