primates library

Primates are placental mammals that include gorillas, monkeys and chimpanzees, as well as humans. Other than humans, primates are found mostly in Central and South America, Africa, and South Asia.

Is there a difference between monkeys and apes?

Featured Article: Is there a difference between monkeys and apes?

Monkeys and apes have lots of similarities, but they're not the same animal. In a lot of ways, it all comes down to the tail. See more »

Are chimpanzees evolving in the wild?

Are chimpanzees evolving in the wild?

Until now, no one has documented a definite case of chimpanzees using tools to hunt in the traditional sense. Find out what a new study on chimpanzees may reveal about human evolution.

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Is there a difference between monkeys and apes?

Is there a difference between monkeys and apes?

Monkeys and apes have lots of similarities, but they're not the same animal. In a lot of ways, it all comes down to the tail.

See more »
Why do humans walk on two legs?

Why do humans walk on two legs?

Did you know you conserve energy every time you walk across a room? You do, in evolutionary terms at least. Find out how and why humans began walking upright and what this has to do with our body's energy use.

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Ape

Ape

Ape, any of 13 species of tailless primates. The orangutan, gorilla, chimpanzee, and pygmy chimpanzee are the largest apes and are called great apes.

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Aye-Aye

Aye-Aye

Aye-aye, ', a lemur-like primate found only on Madagascar. It is up to 40 inches (1 m) long, including a 24-inch (60-cm) tail.

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Baboon

Baboon

Baboon, a large monkey that inhabits savannahs and rocky hills in Africa and southwestern Arabia.

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Capuchin

Capuchin

Capuchin, or Sopajou, a South American monkey. Above its eyes is a hoodlike growth of fur that resembles a monk's cowl.

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Chimpanzee

Chimpanzee

Chimpanzee, an ape of equatorial Africa. It is the most intelligent of all apes, capable of using tools and of learning complicated tasks.

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Drill

Drill

Drill, a West African monkey. The animal weighs up to 60 pounds (28 kg), grows up to 38 inches (95 cm) in height, and has a four-inch (10-cm) tail.

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Gibbon

Gibbon

Gibbon, the smallest ape. Of the nine species, most are found in Southeast Asia and the Malay Archipelago.

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Gorilla

Gorilla

Gorilla, the largest primate. There are three subspecies. The western lowland gorilla inhabits the rain forests of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the extreme southwestern Central African Republic, and extreme southeastern Nigeria.

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Howler Monkey

Howler Monkey

Howler Monkey, a New World monkey. There are six species. Howler monkeys are the largest of the New World monkeys; they are about three feet (90 cm) long, including the prehensile (grasping) tail.

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Human Being

Human Being

Human Being. Human beings are mammals that, biologically, are closely related to the great apes (orangutans, chimpanzees, and gorillas).

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Lemur

Lemur

Lemur, a small furred animal. The name lemur is applied to many animals, including true lemurs, dwarf lemurs, mouse lemurs, weasel (or sportive) lemurs, and the flying lemur.

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Mandrill

Mandrill

Mandrill, a large, colorful monkey of western Africa. The adult male is nearly three feet (90 cm) long.

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Marmoset

Marmoset

Marmoset, a New World monkey. Marmosets are found in South and Central America. There are more than 20 species, some of which are also called tamarins.

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Monkeys

Monkeys

Monkey, one of a large group of furred animals whose feet are used much like hands. There are over 200 species of monkeys.

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Orangutan

Orangutan

Orangutan, a species of anthropoid (manlike) ape. Orangutans are related to gorillas, chimpanzees, and gibbons.

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Primate

Primate

Primate, in zoology, any member of the animal group (the order Primates) that includes lemurs, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.

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Barbary Ape

Barbary Ape, a tailless monkey, the only wild monkey found in Europe. The animal is not a true ape, but is related to the macaques of Asia.

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