A primate is a type of mammal with special features that set it apart from other animals: forward-facing eyes, flexible fingers and toes, and a relatively large brain. Humans are primates, along with monkeys, apes, and lemurs.

What makes primates different from, say, dogs or horses? Those forward-facing eyes give primates excellent depth perception, which helps when swinging through trees or judging distances. Most primates have opposable thumbs or big toes that can grip branches (and tools). Their large brains allow complex thinking and social behavior.

Primates evolved to live in trees, which explains many of their features. Even though humans now walk upright on the ground, we still have grasping hands perfect for holding pencils, throwing balls, and playing instruments. When you grab a branch at the playground or catch a ball, you're using abilities inherited from our tree-dwelling primate ancestors.

Scientists divide primates into groups: prosimians (like lemurs), monkeys (split into Old World and New World types), and apes (including gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans). When you visit a zoo and see the primate exhibit, you're looking at your distant cousins on the mammal family tree.