The primate family is hugely diverse, and with that diversity comes a fascinating array of weird and wonderful characteristics – whether that's a surprising appearance or an unusual behaviour.
From venomous bites to skeletal fingers, these peculiar primates showcase the extraordinary variety that exists within our closest animal relatives.
Weirdest primates
Borneo tarsier
Worthy of a place on our weirdest animals list as well, this bizarre-looking big-eyed primate is reminiscent of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. Its enormous eyes help it see in the dark, a vital skill for this nocturnal, carnivorous animal.
We named the tarsier as having some of the weirdest eyes in the animal kingdom.
- Yoda-like tarsiers are struggling to sleep – and it could be the death of them, warn scientists
- The world’s 25 most endangered primates
Slow loris
With enormous eyes and a round head, the slow loris is cute but deadly. In fact, we named it as one of the most venomous animals in the world, as it is one of very few venomous mammals – and possibly the only venomous primate. Its venom is activated by combining an oil secreted by the brachial gland on the upper arm with its saliva. Find out more about how the slow loris is being saved from extinction here.
- 5 venomous mammals, including some cuties whose innocent looks hide their deadly streak
- What's the world's most dangerous mammal?
Aye-aye
The aye-aye has long been a species of speculation due to its strange, rodent-like appearance. It has rat-like incisors (front teeth) that continue to grow throughout its life, while its enormous ears resemble those of a bat, and its eerie hands and long middle fingers look like a skeleton.
Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur
Also known as Berthe’s mouse lemur, this minuscule primate is the smallest primate in the world, weighing just 30g and measuring just 9-9.5cm in body length.
Proboscis monkeys
Also unsurprisingly known as the long-nosed monkey, the proboscis monkey is easily recognised thanks to its enlarged facial features. Research shows that female proboscis monkeys are more likely to be attracted to males who are endowed with larger noses, so it’s clearly appealing to some…
We named the proboscis monkey's nose as one of the strangest animal appendages in the world.
We explain why proboscis monkeys have such big noses here.
Howler monkey
The guttural scream of a howler monkey can reach a whopping 140dB, far exceeding the 70dB achieved by even the loudest human shouts. They use these howls to communicate their location, protect their territory and guard their mates.
The howler monkey is among the loudest animals in the world.
Bald uakari
The unique red face of the uakari monkey has a thin outer layer, which lacks pigmentation and makes the underlying blood vessels more visible.
Pygmy marmoset
Pygmy marmosets are the smallest monkeys in the world, weighing just over 100g and measuring between 11.7 and 15.2cm in length.
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