“It claims human and apes share a common descent. Does that sound like anything less than kefira to you?”
It is only kefira if you deny that HaShem was in charge of the process.
“Adam was the common ancestor of the animals the Torah specifically says were created before Adam?”
Jews have never insisted on literal interpretations of Torah or Rabbinic narratives. That is a Christian thing. To insist on such is asur because of chukat hagoyim.