Primates, Ranked

Along with the chimpanzee, one of humanity's two closest living relatives, sharing about 98.7% of our DNA. Famous for resolving conflict through cooperation and social bonding rather than violence.

Our other closest relative, documented by Jane Goodall making and using tools to fish for termites. They hunt cooperatively, wage territorial 'wars,' and pass learned behaviors between generations.

The second-largest living primate after its eastern cousin, with silverback males reaching over 180 kg, yet primarily a peaceful vegetarian. Individuals like Koko demonstrated the group's remarkable cognitive capacity.

A great ape that shares roughly 97% of human DNA and builds a fresh sleeping nest in the treetops every night. Critically endangered as palm-oil deforestation destroys its habitat.

The world's largest monkey and arguably the most colorful mammal, with a scarlet-and-blue muzzle that brightens with dominance. Immortalized as the inspiration for Rafiki in The Lion King.

The famous 'snow monkey,' the northernmost-living non-human primate, known for bathing in volcanic hot springs. A troop on Koshima islet was documented inventing and teaching sweet-potato-washing to each other.

An Ethiopian highland monkey and the only primate that lives almost entirely on grass, sporting a bright hourglass patch on its chest. It has one of the most complex vocal repertoires of any non-human primate.

The most recognizable lemur thanks to its black-and-white banded tail, found only in southern Madagascar. Females run the troop in a strictly female-dominant social order.

A small ape that swings through the canopy by brachiation at speeds up to 55 km/h. Mated pairs sing loud, coordinated duets to defend their territory each morning.

One of the most intelligent New World monkeys, documented using stone tools to crack open palm nuts on anvils. Its problem-solving made it the classic 'organ-grinder' monkey.

A tiny, brilliant-orange monkey endemic to Brazil's Atlantic Forest that nearly went extinct. Captive breeding and reintroduction have become a textbook conservation success story.

A Borneo endemic whose males grow a comically large pendulous nose thought to amplify mating calls. It has partially webbed feet and is one of the primate world's strongest swimmers.

The most widely distributed baboon across Africa, living in troops of up to 150 with rigid dominance hierarchies. Increasingly notorious for raiding crops and snatching food from tourists.

A squirrel-sized Brazilian monkey with tufted white ears that gnaws holes in tree bark to feed on gum and sap. It almost always gives birth to fraternal twins raised by the whole family group.

A tiny nocturnal primate whose enormous eyes are each larger than its brain and cannot rotate, so it swivels its head almost 180 degrees. Notoriously fragile, it can die of stress in captivity.

One of the only venomous primates, delivering a toxic bite by licking a gland on its arm. Its 'adorable' viral videos fuel a cruel illegal pet trade that often involves clipping its teeth.

A bizarre nocturnal lemur that taps trees and uses a long, thin middle finger to extract grubs, a technique called percussive foraging. Local superstition brands it an omen of death, and it is often killed on sight.

An aggressive, hyper-adaptable monkey that overruns cities and temples and frequently bites people while stealing food. Many carry herpes B virus, which is potentially fatal to humans, and feral colonies have become invasive pests in Florida.