SO, WHAT IS A PRIMATE?

What do you have in common with the aye-aye, sifaka, siamang, and potto? If you said your collarbone, you re probably a primatologist—a person who studies primates. If you’re not, read on.

- FAITH HICKMAN BRYNIE

Physical Adaptations and Abilities

Just like those animals with the weird names, you belong to the group of mammals called primates. This group also includes the more commonly known gorillas, chimpanzees, and monkeys. Among other things, it’s the structure of your shoulder that earns you membership in that club. In primates, the upper arms are linked to the chest by the collarbone (also called the clavicle). That construction allows you and other primates to do something most mammals can’t: hang by your arms. Watch kids crossing a jungle gym hand-over-hand. They share that ability with monkeys and apes, but don’t expect rabbits, goats, or bears to perform such a feat!

The ability to swing isn’t the only adaptation to life in the trees, where most primates live. Eyes face forward, encased in bony sockets. That lets the view from one eye overlap the other. The result is 3D (three-dimensional) or stereoscopic vision—the perfect tool for judging both depth and distance.

Primates have agile arms and legs. Apes have no tails, but monkeys use their long, flexible tails for balance. Many New World monkeys have prehensile tails that wrap around branches and act as an extra hand or foot. Some can support their entire weight using only their tails.