Primates

Primates refer to animals that share many similarities with humans, including approximately 98% of the genome (the total collection of genetic material that encodes the organism). These near-identical genomes argue strongly that humans are an evolved form of primate.

Like humans, primates are mammals. Most primates are characterized by well-developed vision where both eyes work in a coordinated fashion, a flattened, forward-oriented face, digits that are adapted to grasp objects, thumbs that are at a right angle to the fingers (which enable grasping), nails on the tips of the fingers and toes instead of claws, presence of a collarbone, a shoulder joint desinged to allow free movement of the arm in all directions, two mammary glands, relatively large development of the cerebral hemispheres of the brain, usually only one or a few offspring born at a time, and a strong social organization.

Most species of primates live in the forest canopy, but some live mostly on the ground. Primates first evolved early in the Cenozoic Era, about 60 million years ago.

Humans evolved about one million years ago. They are now by far the most widespread and abundant species of primate, living on all of the continents, including Antarctica. Humans are also the most intelligent species of primate, and probably of any species. Humans have undergone extremely complex cultural evolution, characterized by adaptive, progressive discoveries of social systems and technologies that are allowing this species to use the products of ecosystems in an increasingly efficient and extensive manner.

Habitat changes associated with human activities, coupled with the harvesting of many species and ecosystems as resources, are now threatening the survival of numerous other species and natural ecosystems. This includes almost all other species of primates, whose populations have declined to the degree that the World Conservation Union (IUCN) considers them threatened by extinction.