Some taxomonies use the term prosimii for a primate suborder including groups of primitive primates distinct from the anthropoids (sub-order anthropoidea, including monkeys, apes and humans). The prosimian category includes lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers, small creatures of the tropical forest who may most resemble our earliest ancestors. The classification of tarsiers has been disputed, and Jolly and White separate them from the lemurs and lorises (suborder strepsirhini), placing them in a group with the anthropoids (suborder haplorini). For purposes of simplicity, I will avoid a major comitment and treat all three groups under the loosely defined term prosimian.
Prosimians are restricted to tropical woodlands. Many surviving species have become noctural, probably because they have been marginalized by competition from monkeys and rodents.
General Prosimian features:
- Well developed sense of smell with snouts and only partial binoccular vision.
- Claws on some digits.
- Immobilized upper lips.
- 2:1:3:3 dental formula,
i.e., 2 incisors, 1 canines, 3 premolars, 3 molars.
Mongoose LemurImage courtesy of the Primate Center at Duke University
This photo illustrates a
typical prosimian, a lemur from Madagascar.
Note: The long snout and sensitive nose area, or rhinarium.
Pointed, movable ears. Human-like appearance and manual ability of
the hand.
There are 8 families and 28 genera of prosimians, indicating a substantial
amount of variety.
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