Strepsirrhines

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A classification of primates noted for their wet rhinarium, dependence on olfactory cues for interaction, and traits like substantial ocular size suited for low-light environments
2. This subgroup of primates, which comprises species like lemurs and lorises, is defined by their notable sense of smell, distinctive anatomical features, and behaviors adapted for nocturnality
3. A category of primates characterized by moist noses and a strong reliance on smell for communication and survival

Etymology: The name was coined in 1812 by the French naturalist Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, who grouped primates with a wet, moist nose and a philtrum (the groove above the upper lip) under the label Strepsirrhini. The label is built from Ancient Greek "strépsis", meaning "a turning inward", and "rhinós", meaning "nose". The turn refers to the nostrils, which curl in a comma-like shape on the wet rhinarium, the moist pad at the tip of the nose that lemurs, lorises and their relatives share. The contrast is the point of the name. Primates lacking that wet nose, such as tarsiers and anthropoids (monkeys, apes and humans), were placed in the opposing group Haplorhini, from Greek "haplo", meaning "simple" or "single", because their snouts are shorter and their nostrils lack the curled shape. The plural form simply refers to the members of that group.