Curious George is commonly referred to as a monkey in the children's books and media, but biologically and visually, he lacks a tail, which is a key feature distinguishing monkeys from apes. This absence of a tail suggests that George is more accurately classified as an ape, most likely a young chimpanzee, since chimpanzees are tailless apes from Africa, which fits George's origin story
. Some interpretations suggest he could be a Barbary macaque, an Old World monkey species that has a very small or vestigial tail, making it appear tailless. However, George's physical traits-such as his upright posture, hairless face and hands, and longer arms compared to legs-align more closely with chimpanzees than with Barbary macaques
. The creators, Margret and H. A. Rey, referred to George simply as a monkey, likely to make the character more relatable to children, but experts and fans often consider him an ape, specifically a juvenile chimpanzee, based on his anatomy and behavior
. In summary, while Curious George is called a monkey in the stories, his physical characteristics and African origin strongly indicate he is a chimpanzee, an ape without a tail. The "monkey" label is more a matter of storytelling convenience than strict biological accuracy.
