Prosimians are a suborder of primates found in tropical areas like Southeast Asia, Madagascar, and South Africa. They are divided into three groups: Lorisiformes, Tarsiformes, and Lemuriformes. Prosimians show considerable anatomical variation in weight, size, limb length, intestinal tract, and teeth. They have special housing requirements depending on whether they are nocturnal or diurnal, solitary or social. Though diverse, prosimians share characteristics like predominantly nocturnal activity, small brains focused on smell over sight, arboreal habits, and strong grasping limbs and feet adapted for tree movement.

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SUBMITTED BY ,
JYOTIRMAYEE BADRA
ZOOLOGY DEPARTMENT
UG 6th SEMESTER
ROLL NO :59R0020009
GUIDED BY,
PRAKASH CHANDRA PARICHHA
PROSIMIAN

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INTRODUCTION
 Prosimian is a suborder of primates.
 Prosimians are divided into three groups
 1.Lorisiformes
 2.Tarsiformes
 3.Lemuriformes
 Usually these prosimians are found in tropical areas such as southeast Asia,
Madagascar,south Africa etc.
 Lorisiformes include all extant African and Asian species of Lorises, pottos and
galagos which are represented by 9 genrra and 18 species.
 Tarsifornes include the living tarsiers,the extinct omomyids,two extinct fossil genera
and two extinct fossil species within the genus Tarsius.
 Lemurufirmes include lemurs.

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Unique Anatomy
 Considerable anatomical variations exist among prosimian primates.
 Weight vary from 30grams(mouse lemur) to 8kilograms (largest lemur species)
 They are small bodied and most primates are nocturnal ,they have large eyes and superior night
vision.
 Some are very active,move quickly through forests by leaping from branch to branch (e.g.
galagos)
 Body is lighter
 Hind limbs are noticeable longer than the forelimbs and limbs are approximately equal
length(e.g. lorises,pottos)
 All prosimians are monogastric,the length of the intestinal tract as well as the size and
conformation of the cecum and large bowel vary, depending on the species.
 Teeth combs are found in lemuriforms.

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Special housing requirements:-
 They can stay in outdoor enclosures as well as indoor enclosures.
Prosimians who stay in outdoor enclosure they must be given adequate
shade.
 The size and design of enclosures for prosimians depend on the species,
group size and social dynamics and the reproductive status of individuals.
 Nocturnal prosimians are typically housed in indoor
environments.Generally these prosimians are solitary in nature and some
prefer to stay with a member of opposite sex in captivity.
 Some prosimians such as lemurs are diurnal and they are social and are
housed with a compatible cage mate /social group.
 Enclosures for multimember groups should contain multiple feeding
stations to prevent dominate animals from monopolizing food.
 Some prefer to live in nest by weaving nest(lemurs and lorisoids).

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Special physiology
 They have low basal metabolic rate as compare to other mammals.
 Behaviours such as basking and huddling are related to energy conservation and thermal
regulation.
 Prosimians have no active mechanism for cooling, and temperature regulation is accomplished by
limiting activity, seeking cool locations during hot weather, licking hands to generate evaporative
cooling.
Feeding:-
Some are primarily insectivorous (some species of galagos) and some species are highly folivorous
(Indriidae).
Some prosimians eat leaves, fruits, flowers and high fibre biscuits.
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Characteristics of Prosimian:-
 Although the group “prosimian” is vast and it has different kinds of species,they do share
some common characteristics,such as
 Active times(most species are nocturnal in nature , exception is galagos which is diurnal)
 Brain (Small brains and brains are dedicated to smell rather than eyesight.)
 Biological risk to humans( these are least acquainted to human beings)
 Eyes and sight ( typically large eyes,eyes are suited for night vision and vision is
dichromatic)
 Habit and distribution(they are arboreal, found on the island of Madagascar, certain
species reside throughout the rest of Africa and Asia.
 Limbs(they have strong hands and feet so that they can grasp tree branches and also to
move around.
 Snout and smell( usually they have longer snout than simian species, have a much better
sense of smell that helps to identify foods that are safe to eat)
 Teeth (in fully grown state,possess about 36 teeth.

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 Extinct prosimian families
 Adapidae
 Archeolemuridae.
 Archicebidae.
 Notharctidae.
.
 Megaladapidae.
 Ekmowechashalidae
 Omomyidae
 Living prosimian families
 Cheirogaleidae
 Indriidae
 Lemuridae
 Lepilemuridae
 Tarsidae
 Lorisidae
 Galagidae
 Daubentonidae

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A catalogue of the prosimians
Prodimians are subdivided into 3groups ,these are Lemuriformes,Lorisifornes andTarsiformes.
1.Lemuriformes(found only in Madagascar) 2.Lorisiforms:
It includes 5 families: It includes 2 families
A.Cheirogaleidae A.Lorisinae
B.Lemuridae B.Galaginae
C.Lepilemuridae 3.Tarsifomes
D.Indridae
E.Daubentonidae
 .