Primate

Some animals are called primates.

These animals can climb trees. They have hands that grip well. This helps them hold onto branches.

Many primates live in big groups. They use sounds to talk to each other.

Some primates are very small. Others are very large. They use their eyes to see clearly. Primates are very smart animals.

Primates are a group of mammals.

They first appeared about 74 to 63 million years ago. Many lived in tropical forests. Living in trees helped them change over time. They grew large brains. Most have color vision to see well. Many also have opposable thumbs. This means they can grasp things easily.

Primates come in many sizes. The Madame Berthe's mouse lemur is very small. The eastern gorilla is very big. There are between 376 and 524 species. Scientists find new ones often. For example, they found 36 new species in the 2010s.

Most primates are very social. They live in family groups. They use sounds and gestures to talk. Some primates even use tools.

Many primates face danger today. They can lose their homes when forests are cleared. About 60% of species are threatened with extinction.

Primates are a special group of mammals that include many familiar animals.

This group includes lemurs, galagos, and lorisids, which are called strepsirrhines. It also includes tarsiers and simians, like monkeys and apes, which are called haplorhines. These animals are important because they show how living things adapt to their homes.

Most primates have large brains for their body size. They also rely more on sight than smell. This helps them navigate their world with great detail.

Many primates adapted to live in the tops of tropical forests.

To survive in trees, they developed several useful traits. They have binocular vision, which means their eyes work together to see depth. Many also have opposable thumbs for better grasping and dexterity. Their shoulder girdles allow for a wide range of arm movement. Some primates move by leaping between trees or swinging from branches. This is called brachiation.

Others walk on four limbs or even on two legs.

Scientists have studied these animals for a very long time.

Carl Linnaeus established the order Primates in 1758. He named them because he thought they were the "highest" order of animals. Later, researchers like Sir Wilfrid Le Gros Clark helped explain how they evolved. He looked at how different members of the group form an ascending series. Today, scientists use genetics to understand how all these groups are related.

There is a huge variety in the size and number of primates. The Madame Berthe's mouse lemur is tiny and very light. In contrast, the eastern gorilla can weigh over 150 kilograms. There are between 376 and 524 different species of living primates. We are still finding new ones today. For example, scientists described 36 new species during the 2010s.

This shows how much we still have to learn.

Primates are among the most social animals on Earth.

They live in many types of groups, such as families or harems. They communicate using sounds, smells, and hand gestures. Some primates are even smart enough to use tools. However, many primates face hard jobs for survival today. About 60% of species are threatened with extinction. This often happens because of forest clearing for agriculture or hunting.

Primates are a diverse order of mammals that include many well-known animals.

This group contains humans, monkeys, apes, lemurs, galagos, and lorisids. Scientists divide primates into two main suborders: strepsirrhines and haplorhines. Strepsirrhines, or "wet-nosed" primates, include lemurs and lorisids. Haplorhines, or "dry-nosed" primates, include tarsiers and simians, which are monkeys and apes.

Understanding primates helps us learn how animals adapt to specific environments.

Most primate characteristics are adaptations for life in tropical forests.

Many primates are arboreal, meaning they live primarily in trees. To navigate the treetops, they developed binocular vision and color vision. This allows them to see depth and detail clearly. They also possess large brain sizes relative to their body mass. Physical traits like flexible shoulder girdles allow for wide limb movement. Most primates also have opposable thumbs, which provide better grasping and dexterity.

These features help them move through complex forest environments.

Primates use several different methods for locomotion, or moving from place to place.

Arboreal primates may use leaping to jump between trees. Some use brachiation, which is the act of swinging from branch to branch. Other primates are terrestrial, meaning they spend more time on the ground. For example, gorillas and baboons are primarily ground-dwelling. These animals may use bipedalism, which is walking on two hindlimbs. Others use quadrupedalism, or walking on four limbs. Some primates, like gorillas, use a modified walking style called knuckle-walking.

The primate lineage is very old, dating back 74 to 63 million years.

They likely evolved from small terrestrial mammals that adapted to tropical forests. The earliest possible proto-primate may be *Purgatorius*, which lived about 66 million years ago. In the 1700s, Carl Linnaeus established the order Primates. He named them because he believed they were the "highest" order of animals. Later, primatologist Sir Wilfrid Le Gros Clark studied primate evolution. He developed methods to arrange living members into an "ascending series" leading to humans. Modern scientists now use genetic research to define these relationships more accurately.

There is an incredible range in size and variety among living species. The Madame Berthe's mouse lemur is extremely small. In contrast, the eastern gorilla can weigh over 150 kilograms. There are between 376 and 524 species of living primates, depending on the classification used. We are still discovering new species today. For instance, scientists described 36 new species during the 2010s. This ongoing discovery shows how much of the primate world remains to be studied.

Primates are among the most socially complex animals on Earth.

They form various social structures, such as family groups or uni-male harems. Some live in multi-male and multi-female groups. They communicate using vocalizations, smells, and facial or hand gestures. Many non-human primates are also cognitively advanced and can use tools. Humans, part of the genus *Homo*, represent the most advanced primates. Humans have developed complex languages and sophisticated civilizations.

Despite their complexity, many primates face serious threats to their survival.

Approximately 60% of primate species are currently threatened with extinction. Large-scale clearing of tropical forests for agriculture is a major cause. Forest fragmentation and hunting also put species at risk. Some primates are hunted for food, as pets, or for use in medicines. Additionally, close contact between humans and non-human primates can lead to the transmission of zoonotic diseases. These are diseases, such as Ebola or hepatitis, that can move from animals to humans.