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primate
(redirected from Primate (biology))

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.02 sec.
pri·mate (prmt)
n.
A mammal of the order Primates, which includes the anthropoids and prosimians, characterized by refined development of the hands and feet, a shortened snout, and a large brain.

pri·matial (-mshl) adj.

primate
[prī′māt, prī′mit]
Etymology: L, primus, first
a member of the order of mammals that includes lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans. Most primates have large brains, stereoscopic vision, and hands and feet developed for grasping.

primate (prī´māt),
n a member of the biologic order of animals of the chordate class Mammalia. The primate order includes lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans.
primate space,
n the spacing between the primary canine and primary first molar that normally occurs in the anterior primary dentition in children.

primate
an animal belonging to the highest order of mammals, Primates, which includes humans and the nonhuman primates, the apes, monkeys, lemurs, tree-shrews, lorises, aye-ayes, pottos, bush babies and tarsiers. They are characterized by being plantigrade, pentadactyl, by having clavicles, a complete dentition without specialized molars, a voluminous and complicated brain and a supple hand with a thumb that can be approximated to any of the fingers. They have excellent sight and are highly adapted to an arboreal existence, including the possession by some of a prehensile tail.


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