prosimian

[ proh-sim-ee-uhn ]

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the formerly designated suborder Prosimii, the group of primates that excludes the simians, therefore including all living and extinct strepsirrhines and tarsiers.

noun

1. a prosimian animal.

prosimian

/ prəʊˈsɪmɪən /

noun

1. any primate of the primitive suborder Prosimii, including lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Prosimii

prosimian

/ prō-sĭm′ē-ən /

1. Any of various primates of the suborder Strepsirrhini (formerly Prosimii), considered the most primitive primates. Prosimians have a moist, bare muzzle and a retina that lacks a fovea but is backed by a reflective layer that increases night vision. Unlike other primates, female prosimians do not menstruate because the lining of their uteri is not built up each month to prepare for possible pregnancy. Prosimians are mostly small in size, and include the lemurs, aye-ayes, indris, and lorises. The tarsiers were once classified as prosimians but are now considered more closely related to the monkeys and apes.
2. Compare simian

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosimian¹

First recorded in 1860–65; from New Latin Prosīmi(ī) name of the suborder + suffix -an; pro- ¹, simian, -an )

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosimian¹

C19: via New Latin from pro- ² + Latin sīmia ape

Example Sentences

Since then, it has continued to rescue monkeys, apes and prosimians who have been used or abused by humans.

From BBC

Onja, which translates as ocean wave, is one of about 500 animals studied so far in the mouse lemur project, a collaboration that aims to parse the genetics of this diminutive, prosimian primate.

From Nature

The museum collected 25,000 pounds from one place in the 1990s, looking for prosimian primates, which it found.

From Washington Post

The prosimian was found in December by a Turlock resident who called authorities.

From The Guardian

Even prosimians, lemurs and their other adorable kin have guts similar to our guts.

From Salon