Primates

Primates, from Latin primas (“one of the first, chief, excellent, noble”), in reference to the belief that primates were the “highest” order of all mammals and animals.

Common names of members

Lemurs, galagos, lorisids, tarsiers, monkeys, gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees and humans.

Distribution

South and Central America, sub-saharan Africa, southern, southeastern and east Asia.

Size

Their size varies from an average of 9.2 cm in height and 30 g in weight to 1.25–1.8 m and 100 and 270 kg.

Morphology

They demonstrate an evolutionary trend toward a humanoid physique with a large, domed skull and a shortened snout. They often exhibit pentadactyly (five fingers on each hand), and each finger and toe has a unique kind of keratin fingernail. There are sensitive pads on the fingertips of the hands and feet on the underside. Thumbs are usually opposable. Prehensile tails, like tails themselves, are unique to some species.

Habitat & Ecology

Although most species are arboreal (mainly inhabiting tropical forests), there are terrestrial ones. They are also present in savannas, grasslands, mangroves, swamps, wetlands and mountainous regions; as well as subtropical and subantarctic forests.

Diet

There is a wide range of diets among these species, such as herbivores, omnivores and carnivores. The main sources of food among these behaviors are fruit, leaves, stems, pith, bark, resin, gum, flowers, buds, nectar, seeds, insects and other invertebrates, bird eggs, small vertebrates (birds, lizards, squirrels). Predation on other primate species is present in some large size omnivorous species, as well as other medium size vertebrates.

Reproduction

There is a wide variety of reproductive behaviors among primates, such as monogamy (one male and one female are paired for at least one breeding season), polygyny (one male mates with multiple females), polyandry (one female mates with multiple males) and promiscuity (females mate with multiple males, and males mate with multiple females).