Primates (Monkeys, Apes, and Lemurs) - Taxonomy Tales

Taxonomy Tales is a series covering major categories of life on earth--from mollusks to frogs to marsupials, we will learn them all! These classes can be taken in any order. 

Did you know that chimpanzees (pictured) aren't monkeys...and neither are gorillas, lemurs, gibbons, or orangutans? The taxonomic Order "Primates" is a diverse group of mammals ranging from the 4 inch (9 centimeter) tall Madame Berthe's mouse lemur to the eastern gorilla, who clocks in at nearly 6 feet (2 meters) tall!

While we can't learn about each of the hundreds of primate species in our class, we will discuss...
1) Monkeys vs. Apes
2) Old World vs. New World Monkeys
3) Great apes vs. lesser apes
4) Prosimians - lemurs, tarsiers, and lorises
5) Hominids - we will briefly discuss how humans fit into the order Primates. 

For each group, we will compare and contrast the characteristics and lives of the animals it includes. Specifically, we will discuss some particularly neat species like the proboscis monkey, sifakas, mandrills, Japanese macaques, uakaris, silver langurs, golden lion tamarins, pygmy marmosets, and the extinct Gigantopithecus blacki (subject to change as I edit my classes frequently). Along the way, students will learn new vocabulary and ecological concepts that they can apply to other topics in zoology.  We will focus on concepts like complex social systems and hierarchies, anatomy, and conservation.

This class is lecture-style with slides and photos, but highly interactive. Students are given the opportunity to ask and answer questions, ponder scientific ideas, and discuss with their classmates. Students may participate via video, audio, the chat room, or may just sit back and enjoy! 

Please note that primates are also discussed briefly in Zoology 101 Flex. This class is a unique experience with tons of new information.

Taxonomy can be a complex study and the way we categorize living things is constantly changing. I follow the most widely accepted taxonomic categorizations and sometimes simplify for the level of these learners. Despite the big words used, there is no pre-requisite knowledge to be successful in this class. While this class will acknowledge that humans are included in the order of Primates, there will be no discussion of human evolution.