Chinese Journal of Nature ›› 2015, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (1): 49-52.

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Status and advance on study of behavior and ecology in primates (Ⅰ): Geographic distribution and habitat use

SHANG Yu-chang   

  1. School of life sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
  • Online:2015-02-25 Published:2015-04-13

Abstract: Nonhuman primates today are found on five of the seven continents. Africa, Asia, South American, and their nearby islands are the homes of most living nonhuman primates. The vast majority of primate species and individuals are found in tropical climates. Within their geographic range, living primates are found in a variety of habitats from deserts to tropical rainforests. Primates often move and feed in specific forest levels and show adaptation these different demands and opportunities, which offers a slightly different way of making a living for a primate. The tropics forests inhabited by most primates are the most complex ecosystems on the Earth. The evolution of living primates has conjunction with the evolution of other members of these complex environments. The predators have exerted an important influence on the evolution of many aspects of primate ecology and behavior. Primate species have evolution of many aspects of primate ecology and behavior. They species have evolved a number of unique predation strategies to exploit different types of prey.