Primates 

Primates include prosimians, monkeys, apes, and humans.

Primate Characteristics

 All primates share the following characteristics:

  • Hair instead of fur

  • Nails instead of claws

  • Opposable thumb and big toe (thumb/big toe can touch all other digits) - The exception is humans in which the big toe is modified for bipedal walking.

  • Prehensility – ability to grasp with fingers and/or toes

  • Pentadactyly - five digits on each hand

  • Padded digits with fingerprints

  • Reduced olfactory sense and dependence on vision more than smell

  • Stereoscopic vision – forward rotation of eye with protective bony structure

  • Binocular vision – both eyes focus on one object (depth perception)

  • Higher brain to body size ratio– high level of intelligence

Differences Between Monkeys and Apes

Two types of primates (monkeys and apes) are often confused. The following table shows how they differ.

Monkeys

Apes

Tails

No tails

Smaller body size

Larger body size

Shorter lifespan

Longer lifespan

Quadrupedal

Semi-bipedal

Molar teeth have a Y-4 pattern

Molar teeth have a Y-5 pattern

Smaller brain to body size ratio (Intelligent)

Larger brain to body size ratio  (Higher intelligence)

 

Types of Apes

All apes are categorized as either Lesser Apes or Great Apes.

There are two types of Lesser Apes:

There are four types of Great Apes:

                        Gibbons (SE Asia)

·        Gorillas (Africa)

                        Siamangs (SE Asia)

·        Bonobos (Africa)

 

·        Orangutans (SE Asia)

 

·        Chimpanzees (Africa)

 

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Center for Orangutan & Chimpanzee Conservation, Inc.
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