Themes > Science > Zoological Sciences > Animal classification > Primate Taxonomy > Primate Variations: Basic Characteristics

Humans fall within the order of Primates, a mammalian grouping of approximately 200 species with distinctive common features indicating descent from a common ancestor.

 Individual primate species, including our own, exhibit a common evolutionary origin -- a small tree dwelling mammal that subsisted primarily upon insects. We all share many behavioural and anatomical characteristics which are derived from this background.

General primate behavioural characteristics

1. many generalized mammalian characteristics rather than specialized adaptations to narrow niches;
2. basic arboreal adaptation, especially to tropical forests, although some species have become terrestrial;
3. excellent manual dexterity;
4. well developed sense of sight;
5. good hand-eye co-ordination;
6. cerebral cortex highly organized, involving a dependence upon learned behaviour;
7. long infant dependency periods;
8. complex social organizations.

1. hands:
   1. prehensile with opposable thumbs;
   2. tactile pads and nails on fingers and toes;
   3. adapted for precision grip;
   4. facilitating feeding and locomotion in the trees;
2. mobile arms: posture frees arms and hands for grasping;
3. eyes:
   1. binocular vision;
   2. colour vision;
   3. skull contains post-orbital bars for protection of eyes;
   4. development of visual organs is achieved at the expense of olfactory organs;
4. face: large eyes and brain and reduced snout area;
5. large brains: especially in cerebral cortex;
6. bear single offspring.

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