Primates (Order Primates) are a diverse group of mammals that includes about 233 species that are grouped into 13 families. The two main subgroups of primates are the Suborder Strepsirhini (lemurs, indri, lorises, aye-aye, galagos) and the Suborder Haplorhini (tarsiers, monkeys, apes). There is no obvious, single trait that defines primates, but the group instead shares a set of features that vary from one species to the next. Such traits include a shortened rostrum, eye sockets (orbits) that are encircled by bone, and forward facing eyes that enable binocular vision and depth perception
Primates have five fingers on each hand, fingernails, and opposable thumbs. The bones in their forearms and hind limbs are unfused (in the forearm, they posess a radius and ulna, in their hind limbs a tibia and fibula). This structure is likely to have arisen as an adaptation to an arboreal lifestyle (primates evolved from tree-dwelling ancestors and many remain arboreal to this day).
Where to See:
References:
- Burnie D, Wilson DE. 2001. Animal. London: Dorling Kindersley. 624 p.
- Myers, P. 1999. Primates, Animal Diversity Web. May 29, 2006.
