What is the Difference Between Primates and Humans

The main difference between primates and humans is that primates are the only mammals that have a combination of features, i.e., a relatively large, complex brain, forward-facing eyes with overlapping fields of view that allow depth perception, whereas humans are the most abundant and widespread species of primates characterized by bipedalism and complex brain.

Primates and humans are two taxa of class Mammalia. In fact, the most abundant and widespread species of primates are humans. Strepsirrhines and haplorhines are the two suborders of primates. Primates arose 85–55 million years ago first from small terrestrial mammals. Then,  they adapted to living in the trees of tropical forests. Their large brains,  visual acuity, color vision, shoulder girdle that allows a large degree of movement in the shoulder joint, and dextrous hands are the adaptations to the above-mentioned, challenging environment.

Key Areas Covered

1. Who are Primates
   • Definition, Classification, Characteristics
2. Who are Humans
   • Definition, Classification, Characteristics
3. Similarities Between Primates and Humans
   • Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Primates and Humans
   • Comparison with Key Differences

Key Terms

Humana, Primates, Large Brain

Who are Primates

Primates are a diverse order of mammals. Their main characteristic features include a relatively complex brain, forward-facing eyes with eye sockets, grasping hands, opposable thumbs, flat nails, sensitive pads, a well-developed collarbone, two nipples on the chest, and long childhood.

Figure 1: Hamadryas baboon

Furthermore, strepsirrhines, or primitive primates, and haplorhines, or advanced primates are the two suborders of primates. Primitive primates include the lemurs, galagos, and lorisids, while advanced primates include tarsiers and simians (monkeys, apes, and humans).

Who are Humans

Humans are the most abundant species of primates. Their main characteristic features are the complex brain and bipedalism. This also enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, and language. Therefore, humans live in complex social structures.

Figure 2: Humans

Moreover, the species of humans is H. Sapiens of the tribe Homini, under the suborder haplorhines.

Similarities Between Primates and Humans

• Primates and humans are two groups of mammals.
• Furthermore, their main characteristic features include the complex brain, forward-facing eyes, eye sockets, grasping hands with opposable thumbs, etc.

Difference Between Primates and Humans

Definition

Primates refer to any mammal of the group that includes the lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans while humans refer to the most abundant and widespread species of primate.

Emerged Around

Moreover, primates emerged around 85–55 million years ago first from small terrestrial mammals while humans emerged 300,000 years ago in Africa.

Characteristics

Furthermore, the main characteristic features of primates include a relatively complex brain, forward-facing eyes with eye sockets, grasping hands, opposable thumbs, flat nails, sensitive pads, well-developed collarbone, two nipples on the chest, and long childhood. The main characteristic features of humans, on the other hand, include the complex brain and bipedalism.

Classification

Strepsirrhines, the primitive primates, and haplorhines, the advanced primates, are the two suborders of primates. Meanwhile, humans belong to the suborder: haplorhines.

Conclusion

In brief, primates and humans are two taxa that contain mammals. Moreover, the main characteristic features of a primate include a relatively complex brain, forward-facing eyes with eye sockets, grasping hands, opposable thumbs, flat nails, sensitive pads, a well-developed collarbone, two nipples on the chest, and long childhood. However, humans show a complex brain and bipedalism as characteristic features. In addition, humans belong to the suborder: haplorhines, one of the two suborders of primates while the other suborder is strepsirrhines. Therefore, the main difference between primates and humans is their characteristics and classification.

References:

1. Blaxland, A. B. (n.d.). Humans are primates. The Australian Museum. 

Image Courtesy:

1. “Papio hamadryas pair ” By  Manuel González Olaechea y Franco – Own Work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Preparing The Feast” By Riza (CC BY 2.0) – Own Work via Commons Wikimedia