Final answer:
Prosimians are generally smaller, nocturnal, and have smaller brains than anthropoids, which include monkeys, apes, and humans, who tend to have larger bodies, are mostly diurnal, have larger brains, and advanced cognitive abilities. Some anthropoids have traits like bipedalism and increased hand dexterity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparison of Prosimians and Anthropoids
The Order Primates is divided into two suborders differentiated by their body form, body size, dental morphology, and other physiological and behavioral traits. The two suborders are the Prosimians and the Anthropoids.
Prosimians
Prosimians, such as lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers, are generally smaller in body size than anthropoids and tend to be nocturnal. They exhibit features like small front teeth (canines and incisors), very large molars relative to their overall size, and relatively smaller brains. These characteristics reflect their diet and arboreal lifestyle, particularly in dense forests where nocturnal activity reduces competition with diurnal species.
Anthropoids
Anthropoids encompass monkeys, apes, and humans. They tend to be larger in body size, are usually diurnal with increased reliance on vision, and have larger brain size, especially in the frontal lobes, which corresponds to increased cognitive capabilities. Some anthropoids, such as humans, exhibit unique traits like a fully upright posture resulting in bipedalism, shortening of the arms relative to the legs, increased dexterity of the hands, and a decrease in bone mass of the skull and face exemplified by decreased prognathism and smaller jaws.
Furthermore, the suborder Anthropoids is divided into Simiiformes (New World and Old World monkeys, as well as apes and humans) and Tarsiiformes (tarsiers). Among anthropoids, the development of prehensile tails in New World monkeys and the absence of tails in apes are notable physical differences associated with their adaptation to different environments.