Biology Encyclopedia	Primates Linnaeus, 1758 “primates”
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Common Names

Members of Primates are collectively called primates and this order contains organisms known as lemurs, lorises, bushbabies, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes (amongst which we humans must number ourselves).  The study of primates is called primatology.

Latin Synonyms

Linnaean Rank

Order

Ancestral Phylogeny and Taxonomy

Explanation of phylogenetic trees

Lineage

Terrabiota, Cytota, Neomura, Eukaryota, Unikonta, Opisthokonta, Animalia, Metazoa, Eumetazoa, Bilateria, Deuterostomia, Cyrtotreta, Chordata, Notochordata, Vertebrata, Gnathostomata,, Teleostomi, Euteleostomi, Sarcopterygii, Tetrapodomorpha, Tetrapoda, Reptilomorpha, Cotylosauria, Amniota, Synapsida, Therapsida, Eutherapsida, Neotherapsida, Theriodontia, Cynodontia, Epicynodontia, Eucynodontia, Probainognathia, Mammaliaformes, Mammalia, Cladotheria, Zatheria, Theria, Eutheria, Placentalia, Boreoeutheria, Euarchontoglires, Euarchonta, Primatomorpha

Descendant Phylogeny and Taxonomy

Explanation of phylogenetic trees

Morphology

Primates are characterized by round skulls with large foreheads that contain large brains, relative to other species of mammals; forward-looking eyes with stereoscopic vision; mobile arms and dextrous hands, usually with opposable thumbs.  Primates often exhibit a large degree of sexual dimorphism.

Distribution

Excluding humans, most Primates live in tropical or subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, or the Americas.  Humans, of course, now inhabit every continent on Earth.

Ecology

Ethology

Evolution

Development

Ethnobiology

Population

Notes and Comments

References

Literature

Fleagle, John G..  1999.  Primate adaption and evolution. 2^nd ed..  Academic Press.

Rowe, Noel.  1996.  The pictorial guide to the living Primates.  Pogonias Press.

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