The word primate has an etymological origin in Latin. To be more specific, it is derived from “prima, primatis”, which can mean “first” or “main”. This term describes an order of mammals that, in turn, can be divided into two suborders: haplorhines and strepsirrhines. It should be noted that human beings are part of the suborder of the haplorhines located within the order of primates.
In themselves these are a group of plantigrade mammals that have five fingers on their extremities and that have thumbs that are opposable to the rest. The oldest evidence of these mammals dates back to 58 million years, however experts maintain the hypothesis that this order could have arisen about 85 million years ago.
Within the field of biology, Carlos Linnaeus, a biologist of Swedish origin, was in charge of selecting this word in his “Sistema naturae” in order to designate the species that he considered to be the head of the animal kingdom, which are humans and monkeys., between which the only difference was established the ability to speak, considering both as anthropomorphic.
These arose during the Paleocene, approximately 60,000,000 years ago. In addition to them, they make up several species, such as the leumoroids, among which are the small catta lemur, with a pair of breasts on the thorax and another on the abdomen; the tarsiers, as is the case of the tarsius spectrum of nocturnal habits, which has long hind limbs and large orbits; and the apes.
Some of the characteristics of primates are the following: they belong to the genus of mammals, they have long limbs and pentadactyls, that is, they have 5 fingers, the thumb being opposable and all of them end in nails and not in claws, like many other species. On the other hand, the cerebral hemispheres are considerably developed, while the eyes have a forward direction, since they are located in front of the skull, on the face, which by the way is not very large. On the other hand, their teeth lack specialization and their smell is dim, compared to other species. They have two pectoral breasts and their body is protected with hairs.
