Primatology

Primatology is the study of primates. It is a branch of biology and is closely related to physical anthropology, which is the primatology of genus homo[?], especially homo sapiens. The fields cross over in the study of the hominids, which includes all ancestors of man and the other African Apes[?].

Modern primatology is an extremely diverse science. It ranges from anatomical studies of primate ancestors and field studies of primates in their natural habitat, to experiments in animal psychology[?] and ape language[?]. It has cast an immense amount of light on basic human behaviors and ancient ancestry of these behaviors.

Key 20th-century primatologists include:

• Jane Goodall
• Dian Fossey
• (Birute Galdikas)

as well as other key researcers such as

• Karen Strier
• Frans de Waal
• Sherwood Washburn

and the multitude of others who have given their most important contributions to the science.

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