Prosimians

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A category of early primates, which encompasses lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers, that possess traits suited for arboreal and nocturnal living
2. This primitive group of primates, including species like lemurs and tarsiers, is recognized for their adaptations to life in trees and nocturnal habits
3. A group of primitive primates characterized by their tree-dwelling and nighttime activity, encompassing animals such as lemurs and tarsiers

Etymology: "Prosimian" is a scientific coinage, not an ancient term. It combines the Greek prefix "pro-" meaning "before" or "in front of" with "simian," the adjective from Latin "simia," meaning "ape" or "monkey." The name was built to describe a group of primates that were regarded as ancestral to monkeys, apes and humans. The plural "prosimians" is simply the plural of "prosimian," so it refers to the whole group. Today the term covers lemurs, lorises, galagos and tarsiers, though its boundaries have shifted as scientists have revised how primates are classified.

Synonyms: lemurs, tarsiers