Primate classification

primate

• Forward-facing eyes

• Grasping hands/feet, nails not claws

• Large brains, social behavior

• Examples: Lemurs, monkeys, apes, humans

Strepsirhine

• “Wet-nosed”

• Reliance on smell, nocturnal

• Smaller brains, tooth comb, grooming claw

• Postorbital bar (no plate)

• Examples: Lemurs, lorises, galagos

Haplorhine

• “Dry-nosed”

• Reliance on vision, diurnal

• Larger brains

• Full postorbital closure

• Examples: Tarsiers, monkeys, apes, humans

Platyrrhine (New World Monkeys)

• “Flat-nosed,” sideways nostrils

• Mostly arboreal

• Prehensile tails (some species)

• Dental formula: 2.1.3.3

• Examples: Marmosets, howler monkeys, spider monkeys

Catarrhine (Old World Monkeys & Apes)

• “Downward-nosed,” narrow nostrils

• No prehensile tails

• Dental formula: 2.1.2.3

• Examples: Baboons, macaques, apes, humans

Old World Monkey

• Quadrupedal (arboreal or terrestrial)

• Tails (non-prehensile)

• Ischial callosities (sitting pads)

• Bilophodont molars

• Examples: Baboons, macaques, colobus monkeys

Ape (Hominoid)

• No tail

• Larger brains, longer lifespan

• Flexible shoulders for brachiation

• Y-5 molars

• Examples: Gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, humans