Primates

Primates are an order of mammals characterized by features such as flexible limbs, grasping hands, and forward-facing eyes. The group includes the lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers (collectively known as the prosimians) and the monkeys, apes, and humans (the simians). Within primates, two major clades are recognized: Strepsirrhini (lemurs, lorises, and aye-ayes) and Haplorhini (tarsiers and the simians). Haplorhini further divides into Platyrrhini (New World monkeys) and Catarrhini (Old World monkeys and apes, including humans).

Common features include nails on digits rather than claws, sensitive finger pads, vision adapted for stereoscopic depth, and large brains relative to body size. Most primates have a reduced sense of smell and rely more on vision. They show varied locomotion, from brachiation in gibbons to knuckle-walking in great apes and leaping in many lemurs and monkeys. Primates typically exhibit extended juvenile periods and complex social behavior, with parental care and learned behavior.

Primates range across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, occupying tropical and subtropical forests, woodlands, and increasingly urban areas. Diets are diverse, including fruit, leaves, seeds, stems, and insects. Reproduction is usually slow, with long intervals between births and significant parental investment.

Conservation concerns are prominent, with many species threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and the pet trade. Ongoing research focuses on primate evolution, cognition, and social systems to understand both their diversity and their common ancestry with humans.