The primate genus Teilhardina asiatica is recognized as one of the earliest true primates to appear in the fossil record, with finds in China´s Hengyang Basin dating from the Eocene [54.97 million years ago] ( ).
Primates characteristics include:
- enlarged eyes with stereoscopic vision
- dexterous grasping hands
- highly coordinated agility and muscular coordination
- reduced sense of smell
- progressive placentation (hemochorial placenta in higher forms)
- omnivore/opportunistic feeding
- nails instead of claws (exceptions: marmosets and aye-aye)
- pectoral mammae (exceptions: aye-aye, lorises, galagos, dwarf lemurs and lorises)
Primates live a largely arboreal lifestyle.
