A member of the group of mammals that includes humans, apes, monkeys, and lemurs, characterized by having hands with thumbs and forward-facing eyes.
From Latin 'primatus' meaning 'of first rank,' from 'primus' (first). The term was applied to this group of animals because they were considered the highest-ranking mammals.
Primates are the only mammals that can see in full color the same way humans do, which helped them find ripe fruit in forests. This special vision is why apes and monkeys were grouped together with us—we literally see the world the same way!
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