White-handed gibbon Yellow baboon kirk's red colobus Primates Primates were thought to have evolved around 60 million years ago, from small, insectivorous mammals. There are now about 233 species of primate, including lemurs, lorises, galagos, tarsiers, monkeys, apes and humans. Due to humans, primates are the most widespread of all animals. Non-human primates are confined to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia and America, and they do not occur naturally in Europe or Australasia.
Primates inhabit a range of habitats, but they are predominantly forest-dwelling mammals.
Primates have a range of social structures from a solitary lifestyle to monogamous pairs or large troops with over 100 members.