Primates

created by Webster 1913
(thing) by liveforever (2 d) (print)   (I like it!) 1 C! Fri May 24 2002 at 22:10:15

Order: primates
(Zoological Latin, from primas, "first")

Taxonomic order name for the order which includes humans, apes, and monkeys.

Note that the structure of the latter family grouping is considered somewhat controversial. Homo sapiens is popularly grouped (in various ways) in a family of its own, Hominidae. However, given the relatively close genetic relationship with the other Pongidae, this would seem to be a hypocritical example of wishful thinking, and does not belong in a scientific listing.

If nothing else, reading this list should convince us that we have a lot of close relatives in the animal world.

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