Primates

About Primates:

Primates are the third largest group of mammals with over 300 species.  The only mammal groups that are larger are rodents and bats.  Primates include humans and non-human species.    

While humans inhabit every continent, the majority of non-human primates live in tropical or sub-tropical areas of Central and South America, Asia, and Africa.  Non-human primates are extremely diverse in their size, appearance, and characteristics.  

Non-human primates are divided into the groups listed below with the animals you will find in each group when you visit Rolling Hills Zoo:

Prosimians (Ring-tailed lemur, black-and-white ruffed lemur)
Old World Monkey (Colobus monkey)
New World Monkey (Cotton-top tamarin)
Great Apes (Chimpanzees)

Despite their differences, these primates have many similarities. They have larger brains than other mammal species.  They have excellent eyesight thanks to their front-facing eyes and unlike other mammals, rely more on their vision than their sense of smell.  Most primates have opposable thumbs and nails rather than claws.  And most non-human primates spend at least part of their life in trees.

Fun Facts:

Full grown chimpanzees are five to eight times stronger than adult male humans and can pull up to 1,000 lbs. with one arm.

At the Rolling Hills Zoo you can
find a diverse range of Primates:

Ruffed Lemurs

BLACK-&-WHITE
RUFFED LEMURS

A Special Thank You to These Exhibit Sponsors:

  • Ring-tailed Lemur Exhibit - The Salina Vortex Family
  • Cotton-top Tamarin Exhibit - The Salina Vortex Family
  • Chimpanzee Exhibit - Leon & Judy Hannebaum
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