Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Field Notes • Zoology

Primate

Primates are an order of mammals that includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Primates are an order of mammals that includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans. They are known for forward-facing eyes, grasping hands, large brains, and complex social lives.

What it is

Primates are a taxonomic order within the class Mammalia. Modern classification splits them into two major suborders: strepsirrhines (lemurs and lorises) and haplorhines (tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans). This order includes a wide range of species, from tiny mouse lemurs to great apes and people.

Key characteristics

Typical primate traits include binocular vision for depth perception, grasping hands or feet, opposable thumbs or big toes, and flat nails instead of claws. Many primates also have relatively large brains compared to body size, extended juvenile development, and complex social behaviour.

Why it matters

Primates are central to understanding human evolution, biology, and behaviour. In Canada, they appear in zoos, museums, and educational curricula. Conservation of primate habitats is also a global concern, and Canadian institutions often support primate research and protection efforts.

In short

  • Primates include lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.
  • Common traits: forward-facing eyes, grasping hands, flat nails, large brains.
  • Primates are divided into strepsirrhines and haplorhines.
  • Many primates have complex social lives and extended development.
Canadian angle

Canadian readers may encounter primates in zoological collections, wildlife education, anthropology, and conservation coverage; primates are also a standard topic in biology curricula and museum exhibits across Canada.

Quick questions

What are primates?
Primates are an order of mammals that includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.
Are humans considered primates?
Yes. Humans are classified as primates and are part of the ape lineage within the order Primates.
What is the difference between primates and monkeys?
Monkeys are one subgroup within primates. All monkeys are primates, but not all primates are monkeys, because primates also include apes, lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, and humans.

Sources

  1. Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primate
    Supports: Defines primates as an order of mammals including humans, apes, monkeys, lemurs, and tarsiers, with features such as binocular vision and grasping hands and feet.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/primate-mammal
    Supports: States that primates include lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.
  3. OpenStax — https://openstax.org/books/introduction-anthropology/pages/4-5-what-is-a-primate
    Supports: Lists primate characteristics such as opposable thumbs, five digits, flat nails, binocular vision, reduced reliance on smell, relatively large brains, and postorbital bars.
  4. Invalid — https://www.distract?invalid