primate (zoology)

In zoology, any member of the order of mammals that includes monkeys, apes, and humans (together called anthropoids), as well as lemurs, bushbabies, lorises, and tarsiers (together called prosimians).

Generally, they have forward-directed eyes, gripping hands and feet, opposable thumbs, and big toes. They tend to have nails rather than claws, with gripping pads on the ends of the digits, all adaptations to the arboreal, climbing mode of life.

In 1996 a new primate genus (probably extinct) was identified by a US anthropologist from a collection of bones believed to belong to a potto. The animal has been named Pseudopotto martini.

In the same year, the Red List of endangered species published by the World Conservation Union indicated that 46% of the world's 310 primate species are threatened with extinction. By 2000, this figure had increased to 50% and at least 10% of primate species are likely to become extinct in the wild over the next two decades. The first to be declared extinct, in autumn 2000, was Miss Waldron's red colobus, Procolobus badius waldroni.