Definition of Primates — George J Mivart (1873).

Characteristic of Primates.

Man is also a primate.

What are Primates —

According to George J Mivart (1873) Primates are —

Unguiculate –– Nails , not claws.
Calviculate –– Collar Bones.
Placental Animals.
With Orbitals encircled by bones.
Three kinds of teeths, at least at one time of life.
Brain always with posterior lobe
Calcarine Fissure. (Brain)
The innermost digits of at least one pair of extremities are opposable
Well Developed Caecum (appendix) — For Digestion of Cellulose. Proof that human were earlier Herbivores. Some studies suggest that as ancient humans were predominantly herbivorous, they used their appendixes for digestion. However, as humans evolved, they started to include more easily digestible food in their diet and the appendix eventually lost it function.
Pendulous penis
Tests with scrotum
Two pectoral mammae.

This definition of Mivart first appeared in Book “Origin of Man : Physical Anthropology, 1966” by John Buettner-Janusch.

All these features are also presents in Man. Therefore Man is a primate. Though These features are not exclusive to Primates and other mammals can also have them.

Can be divided into —

General Features — Found in Other mammals also.
Specialised Features — Found only in Primates and Developed at different levels in different primates.

Generalised Features —

Placental mammals
3 Kind of teeths –– inceaser, canines, molars.
Well Developed caecum (Appendix)
Testes Scrotal.

Specialised Features —

Unguiculate (Nails in place of claws)
Claviculate (Collar bones)
Brain with a posterior lobes
Innermost digit opposable.
Hallux with flat nails
Penis pendulous
2 Pectoral mammae

Though Features Described by Mivart are comprehensive for Primates but by no means exhaustive. Thus other characteristics of Primates are –– Given by Das, 1986

Science of classification called Taxonomy.

Primate Classification is Primate Taxonomy.

Read More:

Tracing the Evolution History of Primate