Here's what you need to know about prosimians:
* Not a scientifically recognized group: Modern scientific classification doesn't use the term "prosimian" anymore. It's been replaced by a more accurate and detailed classification based on evolutionary relationships.
* Historically grouped together: Previously, prosimians included animals like lemurs, lorises, galagos, and tarsiers. They were grouped together based on sharing certain physical characteristics like:
* Large eyes: Prosimians often have large eyes, which are important for their nocturnal lifestyle.
* Wet noses: They have a moist, fleshy rhinarium (the area around the nose), unlike monkeys and apes.
* Grooming claw: Many prosimians have a specialized claw on their second toe that helps them groom their fur.
* Diverse group with varying evolutionary relationships: While sharing some similarities, the animals previously classified as prosimians are actually quite diverse and their evolutionary relationships are complex. Some species are more closely related to monkeys and apes than they are to other "prosimians."
Modern classification:
Instead of the term "prosimian," modern classification uses the following groups:
* Strepsirrhini: This group includes lemurs, lorises, and galagos. They share a common ancestor that lived around 55 million years ago.
* Haplorhini: This group includes tarsiers, monkeys, and apes. They have a more recent common ancestor, dating back about 40 million years.
In summary:
The term "prosimian" is no longer used in scientific classification. It is a historical term that was used to describe a group of primates that were considered more primitive than monkeys and apes. While those animals share some features, they are a diverse group with complex evolutionary relationships.