The Wisconsin National Primate Research Center has created this series
of factsheets as a starting point to find information about the various
primate species. Each PIN Factsheet covers one or more species in-depth
with range maps and many images from our AV collection and from new
contributors illustrating the text. New factsheets
will be developed and added to this site on a regular basis.
A glossary of special vocabulary is available. Terms used in the
glossary appear in the text as links which can be clicked to see a
full glossary can also be browsed.
Each PIN Factsheet includes a list of references used in its creation with
a link to recently published literature provided as well. An expert reviewer has
been identified for each species to check each PIN Factsheet for accuracy
AT A GLANCE
Status: conservation status according to
IUCN Red List evaluation
Average life span: indicated if captive or wild
Total population: estimates for captive or wild
Region: countries where the primate is found
Average height: crown-rump length
Average weight: weight in units as noted
Gestation: length in days and approximate length in months
Found under TAXONOMY, MORPHOLOGY, & ECOLOGY
In this section, information about the basic taxonomy of the species can
be found. All taxonomic relationships are taken from Groves (2001).
Common and foreign language names of the focal species are also listed
here and are taken from http://www.iucn.org
Information about the physical appearance of the animal as well as
weight, height, average lifespan, locomotion patterns, and special
physical characteristics are listed in this section.
The country or countries in which the species are found as well as
specific geographical information about their range within those
countries is provided in this section. Also included is information
about long-term study sites and important researchers that have
contributed significant knowledge about the species both in the wild and
in captivity. Estimated population numbers, when available, are also
In this section, the habitats in which the species are found are
described including vegetational composition and climatic information
such as seasonal variation in temperature and rainfall and average
yearly temperature and rainfall.
The focus of this section of the fact sheet is how each species
interacts with its physical environment in order to survive. General
characteristics about diet composition, daily patterns of activity, day
range lengths, home range size, seasonal variation in feeding behavior,
specialized feeding behaviors such as tool use, competition with other
species, and natural predators are described in this section.
Found under BEHAVIOR
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND BEHAVIOR
Because primates are highly social animals with complex behavioral
repertoires, this section extensively examines basic social structure of
wild groups in comparison to captive animals, group size and
composition, social interactions within the group including dominance
hierarchies, immigration and emigration patterns, dispersal patterns,
and territorial interactions.
In this part of the fact sheets, information about sexual maturity,
reproductive parameters of both males and females, description of birth
seasonality, reproductive behavior, and gestation length is described.
It is indicated if this information is from wild or captive animals of
Both parental care behavior and development from birth to juvenilehood
is detailed in this section. Information about nursing, weaning, infant
carrying, teaching, and learning is included.
Visual, auditory, and chemical communication are outlined and described
in this section. Visual communication includes body position and
posture as well as facial cues between animals while auditory
communication involves vocalizations. Chemical communication in some
primates is highly developed and information about scent marking and
pheremonal cues is provided.
Found under CONSERVATION
The subcategories within this section are adapted from the IUCN
"Categories of Threat" used to asses the status of all species and they
include: Human-Induced Habitat Loss and Degradation, Invasive Alien
Species, Harvesting (hunting/gathering), Accidental Mortality,
Persecution Pollution, Natural Disasters, Changes in Native Species
Dynamics, Intrinsic Factors, and Human Disturbance. After the
description of each of these is a section on possible solutions either
based on actual programs that have been implemented to combat specific
threats or based on recommendations of researchers familiar with the
conservation concerns of each species. Also included is a list of links
to other information on the conservation of each species, either to more
information about general biology or behavior of the species or websites
devoted to conservation actions and programs to protect the species.
In this section, not found in all of the fact sheets, information about
the species that is not related to the other sections can be found.
Information about the cultural significance of the species, its use in
biomedical research, description of studies involving language skills,
and tool use may also be found here.
Found under REFERENCES
The reference lists have been compiled according to the style outlined
by the Council of Science Editors using the 6th edition and supplemented
with the website (
Found under LINKS
LINKS TO OTHER INFORMATION
Links to factsheets found on other web sites for each species or group of
species are provided, as well as searches on Primate Info Net and the
International Directory of Primatology.