Differences Among Primates

There are more than 350 species of primates, varying in size from the pygmy mouse lemur (weighing about an ounce) to gorillas (males can weigh up to 600 pounds). Most live in the tropics or subtropics, and most depend on forests for their survival. Primates share characteristics—such as five-fingered hands with opposing thumbs, forward-facing eyes, and color vision—but they do vary greatly, especially from prosimian to monkey to ape.

Prosimians	Monkeys	Apes
includes about 50 species; lemurs in Madagascar, lorises in West Africa and Southeast Asia and bushbabies in Africa smallest in size arms shorter than legs strong hind legs for leaping and clinging to tree trunks most are nocturnal tooth comb some have visible tails grooming claws wet nose and dog-like snout, developed sense of smell light-reflecting eyes	includes more than 200 species, New World in South and Central America, Old World in Africa and Asia, and tarsiers in Southeast Asia smaller in size arms equal in length to or shorter than legs limited shoulder rotation diurnal (active during the day) chest deeper than broad most have visible tails nails on all digits (except Callitrichidae—marmosets and tamarins) dry nose, lack snout, weak sense of smell (large teeth may extend the snout)	includes about 14 species; gorillas, bonobos, and chimpanzees in Africa, and orangutans and gibbons in Southeast Asia larger in size (except for gibbons) arms longer than legs full shoulder rotation diurnal broad chest no tails nails on all digits dry nose, lack snout, weak sense of smell lack of hair on face