ScienceAugust 15, 2026

catarrhine

KAT-uh-ryne

Definition

A taxonomic infraorder of primates that includes all Old World monkeys, apes, and humans, characterized by downward-pointing nostrils.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Greek 'kata' (down) and 'rhis' (nose), referring to the distinctive shape of the nostrils in this group of primates.

In the news

In the article, the term describes a broad biological group that includes the newly identified Likweli monkey. This classification is used to explain why the monkey's discovery is rare, as it is only one of eight such species identified in 75 years.

Scientists in July 2026 confirmed a new monkey species in the Congo rainforest — the Likweli, only the fifth African monkey identified in 75 years — after its first blurry photograph, taken in 2008, failed to attract serious scientific attention for a decade.

Read the full article ↗

ScienceBlog.com

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