Primates | |
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Several species of modern day primates | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Synapsida |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Primates Linnaeus, 1758 |
Families | |
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Primates are eutherian mammals that have existed from the Paleocene into today. Primates are broken down into Prosimians and Anthropoids. Prosimians are the oldest primates--includes lemurs, aye-aye, and lorises--and Anthropoids are the primates that evolved later--Old and New World monkeys and apes. Primates have flexible hands and feet, eyes that face forward, and large brains. Australopithecines and hominids are included in primates.