Primate Classification
By Logan H
Prosimians (Lower Primates)
The first species to generally be considered as primates. They are typically nocturnal, smaller in size, and have a smaller brain-to-body size ratio.
Tarsiers
Diet:
Carnivore (Insects, Birds, and Lizards)
Adaptations:
- Enormous eyes
- 180 Degree Neck Rotation
- Elongated tarsal bones
- Acute hearing
- Long fingers and toe pads
Sources:
Lemurs
Diet:
Insects, Foliage
Adaptations:
- Eyes seem to be adapted for nocturnal life
- Grooming Claws developed specifically for grooming other Lemurs
- Elongated fingers and toes
- Individual digits with no claws
Sources:
Lorises
Diet:
Insects, Nectar
Adaptations:
- Rat sized to 4 foot long
- pointed snout
- large eyes (nocturnal)
- long tail
Sources:
Anthropoids (Higher Primates)
This group includes monkeys, apes, and humans. They generally have larger brains, are diurnal (active during the day), and exhibit more complex social behaviors compared to prosimians.
Cebids
Diet:
Fruit, insects, nuts
Adaptations:
- Dexterous hands
- Occasional tool use
- Prehensile-like tail
- Large brain for foraging
- Gum feeding in some
Sources:
Cercopithecine Monkeys
Diet:
Fruits, seeds, insects
Adaptations:
- Cheek pouches
- Bilophodont molars
- Seed-crushing teeth
- Dietary flexibility
- Terrestrial, arboreal versatility
Sources:
Colobine Monkeys
Diet:
Leaves, fruits
Adaptations:
- Multi-chambered stomach
- High-cusp molars
- Large gut volume
- Microbial leaf digestion
- Preference for young leaves
Sources:
Marmosets
Diet:
Tree sap, insects, fruit
Adaptations:
- Sharp incisors for bark gouging
- Claw-like nails
- Small body for tree access
- Seasonal diet switching
- Cooperative foraging
Sources:
Apes (Hominoids)
Apes are distinguished from monkeys by the absence of a tail and generally larger body size, broader chests, and more complex brains.
Lesser Apes
Gibbons (Lesser)
Diet:
Fruit, leaves, insects
Adaptations:
- Long arms for brachiation
- Mobile shoulder joints
- Curved hands
- Color vision for ripe fruit
- Territorial songs
- Throat sac for calls (Siamangs)
Sources:
Great Apes
Orangutans (Great)
Diet:
Fruit, Leaves, Bark
Adaptations:
- Low-energy metabolism
- Long arms
- Tool use
- Solitary foraging
- Leaf digestion ability
Sources:
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Gorillas (Great)
Diet:
Leaves, stems, fruit
Adaptations:
- Large digestive tract
- Knuckle-walking
- Powerful jaws
- Cohesive groups
- Fallback plant foods
Sources:
Chimpanzees (Great)
Diet:
Fruit, insects, meat
Adaptations:
- Tool use
- Complex social foraging
- Large brain
- Robust teeth
- Knuckle-walking
Sources:
Humans (Homo sapiens)
Although classified within the Great Apes, humans are special due to their very developed bipedalism, extremely large and complex brains, and their ability to create complex tools, languages, and cultures.
Humans
Diet:
Omnivorous (plants, meat, cooked foods)Adaptations:
- Reduced gut size
- Bipedalism
- Cooking and tools
- Large brain
- Social food sharing
Sources:
