Question: @Jess If humans evolved from apes and monkeys why cant we swing of trees or climb up trees like them (I know some humans can climb trees but not huge ones like monkeys can) also why don't we have tails like monkeys???

Jess Bean answered on 28 Jun 2013:

Apes and monkeys evolved to swing from and climb trees because that was the best way that they could travel and more importantly find food! Most of the food they eat is in the form of fruit and seeds that grow in trees or in the tree canopy. Monkeys that can swing or climb the best can get the best food.

Humans have evolved slightly differently because the food that we eat (that has more energy in it) like meat and plants like wheat and potatoes, is mainly found on the ground. We evolved to walk instead of climb because firstly we could travel on the ground more easily and also that we could carry things (like weapons). If you dont need your hands for climbing you can do other things.

As for the tails, monkeys use tails to help them climb and keep their balance (almost like another arm). Some animals like chimps have already lost their tails as well as humans. Because humans evolved to walk, it wasn’t needed as much and so eventually was lost. What is left of it is actually still part of our backbones. In human skeletons you can see the bump of bone (the coccyx) that used to be a tail!