Concept in Definition ABC
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Javier Navarro, in Jan. 2016
Within the group of mammalian animals there is the order of primates, among which are the orangutan, the chimpanzee, the macaque and human, which belong to the subgroup of anthropoid apes and baboons, baboons and macaques, which are part of the apes. The investigations of primatologists determine that the first primates had a small stature, a reduced skull, fed on fruits and leaves, were adapted to the arboreal environment and lived in clans relatives.
Physical characteristics shared by primates
- Everyone has the thumb opposite the index finger and this allows them to pick up small objects. Primates have five fingers and toes, long arms, and most of them are covered in hair (humans are different in this regard).
- They lack hair on the upper part of the face and this allows them to have a more effective gesture for the communication.
- They are bipedal, a characteristic that differentiates them from other mammals. However, most primates move better in trees.
- Regarding the gestation of the females it is variable according to the species and can range between 5 and 9 months.
The homo sapiens species
Humans belong to the same taxonomic order as primates and share the physical characteristics indicated above. However, we have a number of peculiarities:
- Our larger brain allows us to handle tools and make tools to improve our living conditions.
- Physiologically we have legs that are larger than arms, unlike other primates.
- The rationality of humans is more complex than that of other primates. This translates into a greater ability to learning and a greater memory.
- The ability to speak is the genuinely human element. From our language sociability it is more sophisticated than that of other primates.
- Physically we do not have a specific specialization, but this lack is compensated by our brain plasticity and the ability to adapt to diverse ecosystems and circumstances.
- The physiological peculiarities of humans make up their hominization, the physiological foundation that allows a jump qualitative, the humanization. From humanization, the homo sapiens creates a series of basic rules (for example, the prohibition of incest), a gradual technological development, religious beliefs and forms of social organization.
Photos: iStock - sfmorris / MoMorad
Topics in Primates