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Primates Facts & Worksheets

Primates are a group of mammals that includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes, including humans.

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In zoology, any mammal belonging to the group that includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans is referred to as a primate. The third-most diverse order of mammals is the order of primates, which contains over 500 species.

See the fact file below for more information on Primates, or you can download our 29-page Primates worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

WHAT ARE PRIMATES?

  • Prosimians and anthropoids make up the two subgroups of the Order Primates. The lemurs of Madagascar, the lorises, pottos, and tarsiers of Southeast Asia, as well as the African bush infants, are examples of prosimians. 
  • Humans, apes, and monkeys are all anthropoid species. Prosimians are typically smaller and have smaller brains than their anthropoid counterparts. They also tend to be nocturnal, which is in contrast to anthropoid counterparts who are diurnal.
  • The following characteristics set primates apart from other mammals: unspecialized structure, specialized behavior, a short muzzle, poorer sense of smell, prehensile five-digit hands and feet with flat nails instead of claws, keen vision with depth perception due to forward-facing eyes, large brain, and prolonged pre-and postnatal development.

EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY

  • In the early Paleocene Epoch, which began the Cenozoic Era roughly 65.5–55.8 million years ago, the earliest primate-like mammals, or proto-primates, appeared. They were around the size of squirrels and looked like tree shrews.
  • They were likely adapted to an arboreal way of life in warm, humid climates, according to the limited amount of fossil evidence that has been found so far from Asia, Europe, North Africa, and especially Western North America.
  • These early primates continued to evolve, with the general trend being larger brains and eyes and smaller muzzles. Many of the early prosimian species vanished before the end of the Eocene Epoch as a result of either colder temperatures or competition from the first monkeys.
  • The hominoids, or great apes, belong to the family Hominidae of the order Primates.
  • Humans and chimpanzees separated from a common hominoid ancestor some 6 million years ago, according to evidence from the fossil record and a comparison of human and chimpanzee DNA. 
  • Although many species have diverged from the evolutionary branch that contains humans, humans are the sole surviving member of any species.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS – LIFE CYCLE

  • The length of the stages of a primate’s life cycle varies greatly. These developmental phases are among the most rudimentary in the group and are often identical to those of other mammals their size.
  • They are significantly extended as one moves up the evolutionary tree.
  • The gestation period, which, contrary to popular perception, cannot be consistently connected with adult body size, differs the least from the newborn and juvenile periods taken together.
  • Nonhuman primates also experience typical weight and height development spurts; however, these in nonhuman primates begin earlier in the neonatal period and last for a shorter time. 
  • Primates have delayed puberty in both sexes until growth is virtually complete, unlike the majority of nonprimate mammals. In humans, the apex of the growth spurt in boys occurs just after sexual maturity, but the growth surge in girls occurs before menarche.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS – REPRODUCTION

  • In a manner similar to that of Homo sapiens (humans) and other species of primates, two parents mate to produce offspring through mammalian sexual reproduction. 
  • All of these mammals have unique mating systems, despite the fact that they have numerous sexual reproduction-related features in common.
  • Copulation, gestation, birth, and nursing are all listed as reproductive events in the calendar of primates. Due to the long gestation period, these phases last the female primates a full year or longer before the cycle repeats itself. 
  • Typically, the female does not enter physiological receptivity until after the previous pregnancy’s infant has been breastfed.
  • In most cases, between the ages of four and eight, monkeys become sexually mature. The age at which a monkey can procreate, however, varies depending on the species. 
  • While some monkeys attain sexual maturity at age ten, others do not mate until they are two years old. The majority of monkeys give birth after six months of gestation.
  • Strong relationships and exclusively mating with one partner are characteristics of monogamous monkeys, which results in fewer offspring. 
  • However, because polyamorous monkeys have more possibilities to mate and have kids, their species is more likely to survive.
  • Tarsiers, apes, and numerous monkey species all have uninterrupted annual reproductive cycles; however, seasonality in births is only present in monkey species that are either found outside the equatorial belt or at high altitudes within equatorial regions, where dry seasons and seasonal food shortages occur.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS – SOCIAL ORDER

  • Primates frequently live in social groupings. Individual members of social groups cooperate, communicate, and engage in both friendly and aggressive or submissive interactions.
  • In grooming, a common social practice among monkeys, one meticulously scrapes through another’s fur to remove any dirt or ectoparasites; these relationships are frequently displayed. For most primates, grooming has a crucial social purpose in addition to its hygienic one.
  • Conflict and competitiveness are fundamental aspects of group existence. Sharing is required for food, water, sleeping quarters, and romantic relationships. 
  • Aggressive competition over food and mates is prevalent in primates, and although typically moderated by dominance, hierarchies in which higher-ranking animals have preferential access to limited resources can result in damage and even death.

PRIMATE CLASSIFICATIONS

Strepsirrhini

  • A complex group of small mammals known as Strepsirrhini have adapted to specific ecological niches in Africa, Madagascar, and Asia. They were given the term twist-nose. 
  • These mammals with wooly coats feature pointed snouts with wet noses, noticeable whiskers, and a divided upper lip connected to the gums by a membrane.
  • Lemurs, galagos, and lorises are classified as strepsirrhines, which makes them crucial to comprehending the development of primate sociality. They are nocturnal and solitary creatures, with a few lemurs as an exception.

Haplorrhini

  • Haplorhines are distinct from strepsirrhines due to the placenta, the design of their skulls and teeth, and their facial characteristics, just like monkeys and apes are. 
  • Haplorhines, which means “simple nose” in Greek, usually have forward-facing eyes and flattened facial features. This shift coincides with a shift away from scent and toward increased reliance on vision.
  • The Tarsiiformes, or tarsiers, the Platyrrhini, or New World Monkeys, and the Catarrhini, or Old World Monkeys, which also include apes and humans, make up the modern haplorhines. 
  • The fundamental distinguishing characteristic between the two geographically diverse lineages of monkeys is the form of their noses.
  • The closest living ancestors of humans are thought to be apes, but it is debatable where to classify humans in relation to lesser and great apes. The apes and Homo sapiens are both members of the family Hominidae. Humans dwell all over the world, in contrast to apes and monkeys, which are native to tropical or subtropical climates.

Primates Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Primates across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Primates, a group of mammals that includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes (including humans), characterized by certain physical features such as opposable thumbs, forward-facing eyes for binocular vision, and large brains relative to body size.

Primates Worksheets
Primates Worksheets
Primates Worksheets

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  • Primates Facts
  • Life of a Primate
  • Primate Orders
  • The Most Intelligent Primate
  • Babies on the Way!
  • “Queen of the Primates”
  • Primates are Unique
  • Primate Prints
  • Vulnerable Primates
  • Primates on Record
  • Proud Mamma

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the defining characteristics of primates?

Primates are characterized by certain physical features such as opposable thumbs, forward-facing eyes for binocular vision, and large brains relative to body size. These adaptations have enabled primates to evolve a range of behaviors and cognitive abilities, such as complex social structures, tool use, and problem-solving skills. Other common physical traits of primates include nails instead of claws on their fingers and toes and long arms and legs for climbing and swinging through trees.

How many species of primates are there?

There are about 260 species of primates, including lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes (including humans). They are found on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. The largest diversity of primate species can be found in Central and South America and Africa.

What is the difference between monkeys and apes?

The main difference between monkeys and apes is their physical characteristics and adaptations. Monkeys have tails and are generally smaller in size, while apes do not have tails and are typically larger. Apes also have larger brains relative to body size and more advanced cognitive abilities, such as using tools and engaging in complex social behaviors. However, these are generalizations, and there is some overlap between the two groups.

What is the most endangered primate species?

Several species of primates are critically endangered and face a high risk of extinction. One example is the Cross River Gorilla, which is found in a small region along the border of Nigeria and Cameroon and has a population of fewer than 300 individuals. The Grauer’s Gorilla, found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is another critically endangered species, with a population estimated to be fewer than 4,000 individuals.

Why are primates important?

Primates are essential for several reasons. They are considered some of the closest relatives of humans and have provided valuable insights into human evolution and behavior. Additionally, primates play important roles in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and pollinators, helping to maintain the health and diversity of the plants and animals in their habitats. Primates are also important indicators of the health of the ecosystems they live in, and declines in primate populations can indicate broader environmental problems.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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