Kong

Kongs (also known as the Apes in production literature for the Donkey Kong Country television series) are sapient primates that make up much of the cast of the Donkey Kong franchise, with the eponymous character himself being one. They are capable of actions such as speech and building houses and typically wear clothing, though the amount varies drastically with the individual, with Donkey Kong himself wearing only a tie, while many others wear full outfits. They seem to be native to Donkey Kong Island, and they share an animosity with much of the crocodilian Kremling race. While most of them share the surname "Kong," they are not all directly related to one another. Kongs can resemble any number of real-life primates, with Donkey Kong, Funky Kong, and several others being gorillas; Diddy Kong being a monkey; Dixie Kong and Tiny Kong being chimpanzees; and Lanky Kong being an orangutan.

In the Donkey Kong Country cartoon and Saturday Supercade, Kongs are never referred to as such outside their individual names. Instead, generic names of various real-life types of primates, such as "monkeys," "chimps," "gorillas," and "apes," are used fairly interchangeably to describe them. However, the term "baboon" seems to be reserved as an insult, potentially due to it sounding similar to the word "buffoon," and is even used against other species, such as Cranky Kong using it against Krusha in "From Zero to Hero."

The word "Kong" is a Japanese slang word for "gorilla."

Kong Family
The Kong Family (also known as the Donkey Kong Family or Kong Klan ) and the DK Crew  are the main group of Kongs, being Donkey Kong's family and close friends. The patriarch of the family is Cranky Kong, the original Donkey Kong. In the Donkey Kong franchise of video games, members of the Kong Family are either playable characters or supporting characters that aid the main heroes on their journey, although they also receive help from allies outside the family, including the Animal Friends and the Kremling K. Lumsy.

The family often uses the initials "DK" as a symbol, which most often represents Donkey Kong. It is seen on Donkey Kong's tie, DK Barrels, DK Coins, the Level Flags, DK Spaces, and various other objects around Donkey Kong Island. The symbol is also used in the Super Smash Bros. series, although in this context, it is used as the logo for the Donkey Kong franchise in general instead of just the Kong Family members (since King K. Rool and Klaptraps also use it).

Donkey Kong's family
In addition, Donkey Kong Jr. has a relative referred to as Uncle Julius, albeit he has not been shown to be part of the Kong clan.
 * Cranky Kong's great grandfather &mdash; Was said to have once owned an antique mirror in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
 * Cranky Kong &mdash; The original Donkey Kong, the paternal figure of Donkey Kong Jr. and Donkey Kong, Wrinkly Kong's husband.
 * Donkey Kong Jr. &mdash; The son of the original Donkey Kong.
 * Donkey Kong &mdash; The current Donkey Kong, Cranky Kong's descendant.
 * Baby Donkey Kong &mdash; The younger version of Donkey Kong in Yoshi's Island DS.
 * Baby Kong &mdash; The younger version of Donkey Kong in the Ape Foo Young episode of the Donkey Kong Country television series.
 * Wrinkly Kong &mdash; Cranky Kong's wife. She appeared alive prior to Donkey Kong 64; from then onwards, she has been deceased and appears as a spirit.
 * Diddy Kong&mdash; Donkey Kong's nephew and Dixie Kong's boyfriend.

Dixie Kong's family

 * Dixie Kong &mdash; Diddy Kong's girlfriend, Tiny Kong's older sister, Kiddy and Chunky Kong's cousin.
 * Tiny Kong &mdash; Dixie Kong's younger sister, Kiddy and Chunky Kong's cousin.
 * Chunky Kong &mdash; Kiddy Kong's older brother, Dixie and Tiny Kong's cousin.
 * Kiddy Kong &mdash; Chunky Kong's younger brother, Dixie and Tiny Kong's cousin.

Close friends

 * Candy Kong &mdash; Donkey Kong's childhood sweetheart and girlfriend.
 * Funky Kong &mdash; Donkey Kong's friend.

Other members

 * Baby Kong &mdash; A baby that was under the care of Candy Kong and Dixie Kong in the Baby Kong Blues episode of the Donkey Kong Country television series.
 * Bink &mdash; A deceased Kong-like character in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. In the Nintendo 3DS remake, his appearance is the same as the rest of the skeleton sailors of the S.S. Chuckola.
 * Bluster Kong &mdash; A rich arrogant Kong that runs Bluster Barrelworks on Kongo Bongo Island.
 * Leo Luster &mdash; Bluster's alter-ego from the Hunka Hunka Burnin' Bluster episode of the Donkey Kong Country television series.
 * The driver &mdash; A Kong that takes Mario, Princess Peach, and Toad to Cranky Kong's lair in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
 * Eddie the Mean Old Yeti &mdash; A Kong that lives in the mountains of Kongo Bongo Island.
 * Junior (II) &mdash; A pink variant of Donkey Kong Jr.
 * Kong Fu &mdash; A Kong that challenges Donkey Kong in the television show.
 * Lanky Kong &mdash; An orangutan whose relationship to the other Kongs is unknown.
 * Mini Donkey Kong &mdash; A Kong that signifies an alarm.
 * Monkey Kong &mdash; An implied Kong chosen to lead the Federation of Future Rulers.
 * Rabbid Cranky &mdash; A Rabbid/Cranky Kong cross-creation.
 * Ringo &mdash; A cartoonist friend of Donkey Kong appearing in the ''Donkey Kong Jungle Action Special.
 * Super Kong &mdash; A powerful version of Donkey Kong that appears to help the player get through levels. Super Kong also has the ability to get a white-furred Diddy Kong as a partner.
 * Swanky Kong &mdash; A Kong that hosts a game show and is very fashionable.
 * Poppa &mdash; An implied Kong who is the father of Sonny who disappeared.
 * Uncle Kong &mdash; A Kong similar in appearance to Bluster described as "Diddy's uncle" who gives various tips in JK Voice's Super Donkey Kong 2: Dixie & Diddy strategy book.
 * Various generic, unnamed Kong characters seen at the starting line of DK Jungle and Bananan Labyrinth in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX.
 * Various generic, unnamed Kong characters in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, including the Kong army.

Evil Kongs

 * Dread Kong &mdash; A member of the Kong boss group.
 * Ghastly King, a.k.a. Cactus King &mdash; The leader of the Kong boss group.
 * Karate Kong &mdash; A member of the Kong boss group.
 * Ninja Kong &mdash; A member of the Kong boss group.
 * Rabbid Kong &mdash; A Rabbid/Kong cross-creation.
 * Mega Rabbid Kong &mdash; Rabbid Kong's corrupted alter-ego.
 * Sumo Kong &mdash; A member of the Kong boss group.

Robotic Kongs

 * Candy Clone &mdash; A robotic version of Candy Kong under the control of King K. Rool in the Donkey Kong Country television series.
 * Cannon Kong &mdash; A monkey robot from the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series.
 * Capture Kong &mdash; A monkey robot from the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series.
 * Catapult Kong &mdash; A monkey robot from the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series.
 * Circus Kong &mdash; A monkey robot from the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series.
 * Cool Kong &mdash; A monkey robot from the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series.
 * Crash Kong &mdash; A monkey robot from the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series.
 * Cyber Kong &mdash; Robotic Kong enemies that can shoot lasers from Donkey Kong Barrel Blast.
 * Kongā &mdash; A monkey robot from the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series.
 * Mini Diddy Kong &mdash; A toy made by the Mario Toy Company.
 * Mini Donkey Kong &mdash; A toy made by the Mario Toy Company.

Kong species

 * Guerrilla &mdash; Enemies from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars that have an uncanny resemblance to Donkey Kong.
 * Chained Kong &mdash; A stronger variant of Guerrillas, from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.
 * Manky Kong &mdash; Enemies from Donkey Kong Country that are described as "Kong reject orangutans".
 * Uckykong &mdash; Enemies from Yoshi's Crafted World that are a hybrid between an Ukiki and a Kong.
 * Snow Ucky Kong &mdash; A snow variant of the Uckykongs, from Yoshi's Crafted World.

Unused Kongs

 * An unnamed, hatted Kong. &mdash; Donkey Kong Land
 * An unnamed Kong with dark fur and glowing red eyes. He was replaced by Dread Kong in the final game. &mdash; Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
 * The Helper Monkeys from an earlier build. &mdash; Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
 * , also known as "Crappy Kong". He was replaced by Candy Kong in the later build. &mdash; Diddy Kong Pilot

Trivia

 * In Donkey Kong's for The Super Mario Bros. Movie set in the Great Ring of Kong, in addition to depicting Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, Swanky Kong, and Cranky Kong, there are also several other unnamed Kongs, including one who wears sunglasses that resembles Funky Kong.