What does platyrrhine mean?
Platyrrhine is a specialized zoological word for a member of, or a feature of, the New World monkey group. As an adjective, it describes characteristics of these primates, especially their broad, widely spaced nostrils, from which the name derives. As a noun, it refers to an individual monkey belonging to the group, including capuchins, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, marmosets, and tamarins. The traditional contrast is with catarrhines, the Old World monkeys and apes whose nostrils are narrower and more closely set. In modern primate taxonomy, platyrrhine generally refers to the clade Platyrrhini, so it has a technical classificatory meaning rather than simply describing any animal with a flat nose. The word is useful in anatomy, evolutionary biology, and primatology, where it helps distinguish the two major monkey lineages. Although most common in scientific prose, it becomes readily understandable once its Greek components, meaning broad and nose, are made clear.
Relating to the New World monkey group Platyrrhini, especially to the broad, widely spaced nostrils characteristic of these primates.
"Researchers compared the auditory anatomy of several platyrrhine species."
Chiefly used in zoology, comparative anatomy, and evolutionary biology.
A New World monkey belonging to the taxonomic group Platyrrhini.
"The scientist identified the specimen as a platyrrhine from its facial morphology."
The plural is “platyrrhines.” The noun is technical and occurs less often than the attributive form.
Used when referring to multiple monkeys belonging to the New World monkey group.
"Several platyrrhines inhabit the forest canopy."
A platyrrhine is a monkey with a broad nose, while its catarrhine counterparts have narrow ones.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does platyrrhine come from?
The English word comes from the New Latin taxonomic name Platyrrhini, built from Greek platys (“broad”) and rhinos (“nose”). The same Greek roots recur in scientific words such as platypus and platyphyllous, meaning “broad-footed” and “broad-leaved,” and in rhinoceros, rhinitis, and rhinology, which concern the nose or nose horn. The modern zoological sense developed alongside primate classification, with New World monkeys treated as the group Platyrrhini.
How platyrrhine is actually used
This is primarily a formal zoological and biological term. It is used both attributively, for features or members of the group, and substantively for individual New World monkeys.