Lord Greystoke's imitative associates (4)
I believe the answer is:
apes
'associates' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for apes that I've seen before include "Imitates like primates" , "Zoo animals" , "Imitates in every aspect" , "Copies the primates?" , "Large primates" .)