Formerly, all the great apes except humans were classified as the family Pongidae, which conveniently provided for separating the human family from the apes; see The "great apes" in Pongidae. As noted above, such a definition would make a paraphyletic grouping of the Pongidae great apes. read more
Humans ARE considered great apes by anyone with a background in physical anthropology or biology, because an "ape" has a very specific definition which includes the biological characteristics of a person and all of our fossil ancestors. read more
Humans are primates, but the primates that we most closely resemble are the apes. We are therefore classified along with all other apes in a primate sub-group known as the hominoids (Superfamily Hominoidea). read more