Primates

Primates have special characteristics. Primates have hands with separate fingers. Primates use their hands to pick up or hold things. Primates are social animals, too. Baby primates stay with their mothers a long time after they are born.

Monkeys are primates and can be divided into two groups -New World monkeys and Old World monkeys. Monkeys that live in South America are New World monkeys. Monkeys that live in Asia or Africa are Old World monkeys.

Old World monkeys like baboons are bigger and stronger than New World monkeys. Some Old World monkeys live in trees or on the ground. Their nostrils are close together. Old World monkeys use their thumbs to pick things up.

New World monkeys such as tamarins are smaller than Old World monkeys. Many New World monkeys live in trees. Their nostrils are far apart. New World monkeys cannot use their thumbs to pick things up. They have long tails that they use to swing from tree to tree.

Apes are primates that have no tails. Apes have long arms and thick hair on their bodies. Apes can use their thumbs to pick things up and are smarter than monkeys. Apes live in Africa and Asia.

There are four kinds of apes: gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans and gibbons. Gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans are called great apes. Gibbons are called lesser apes because they aren't as big.

Gorillas are the biggest apes. Some gorillas can be as tall as six feet and weigh much as 500 pounds! Gorillas may look scary because they are so big, but they are really gentle. Gorillas live in the forests and mountains of Africa.

Orangutans have extremely long arms. Their strong, long arms help them travel through the trees. Orangutans live in the forests of southeast Asia.

Chimpanzees are the most social of all the apes. Many of them live together in troops. Sometimes they use tools such as sticks to get their food. Chimpanzees live in Africa.

Gibbons are smaller than great apes. They have long arms and swing through trees so fast that they look like they are flying. Gibbons live in the tropical rain forests of Asia.

Apes don't make sounds like people do. They communicate with grunts, growls and screams. However, some gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans have been taught sign language and can understand and use some human words.

Prosimians are primates, too. Prosimians are the relatives of monkeys and apes. Lemurs, tarsiers, bush babies, pottos and lorises are all prosimians. These animals live in Africa and Asia.

Prosimians are different from other primates. Some prosimians have large eyes, long noses and long tails. Some prosimians only come out at night. They are nocturnal. Some come out during the day. They are diurnal.

Unlike human primates, some apes, monkeys and prosimians are endangered species. This means that they are in danger of disappearing from the world. Some people hunt these animals or destroy their habitats.