1. Five-fingered hand and five-toed foot: All primates have a grasping hand and foot with five digits, allowing for dexterity and manipulation of objects. This is crucial for their arboreal lifestyle (living in trees) and their ability to handle food and tools.
2. Large relative brain size: Primates have brains that are larger in proportion to their body size compared to most other mammals. This contributes to their complex social behaviors, advanced problem-solving abilities, and learning capabilities.
3. Forward-facing eyes: Primates have eyes positioned at the front of the face, providing them with stereoscopic (3D) vision. This enhances depth perception, crucial for navigating through branches and judging distances while leaping.
While these are the most defining characteristics, there are other common traits like:
* Generalized dentition: Primates have relatively unspecialized teeth, allowing them to eat a wide variety of foods.
* Prehensile tails: Many primates have tails that can grasp objects, providing additional balance and support for climbing.
It's important to note that while these characteristics are shared among all primates, they can vary in their degree of development and function across different species.