Primate Evolution and Biogeography

Primate evolution and biogeography are the study of the physical and genetic changes experienced by primates (the animal group that includes apes, monkeys and humans) as they have evolved over time and their geographic dispersal over the Earth's surface. It helps us to better understand both their development as species and their current distributional patterns. Insights gained from this research allow us to infer the origins of different primate species, their relationships to one another, their adaptations to varied environments, and their interconnections with the environment. Primate evolution and biogeography can also inform conservation strategies through the better understanding of primate distributions and population dynamics.