Optimus Primal

Optimus Primal is the leader of the Maximals and the captain of the spaceship Axalon'. 'His beast mode is a Gorilla. He had a rivalry with the Predacon commander, Megatron. He was named after the Autobot leader, Optimus Prime. He was a Transmetal then he was known as Optimal Optimus.

Optimus Primal vs. Megatron
Originally, Optimus was supposed to be a Bat. According to the Beast Wars Sourcebook, it was suggested by the Axalon computers, but Optimus rejected it in favor of the more powerful gorilla. The comic indicated that this was the new body of Optimus Prime (before the series even started).