Primatology is the scientific study of
primates. It is a diverse
discipline and researchers can be found in academic departments of
anatomy,
anthropology,
biology, medicine,
psychology, veterinary sciences and
zoology, as well as in animal sanctuaries, biomedical research facilities, museums and zoos.
Primatologists study both living and extinct primates in their natural habitats and in laboratories by conducting field studies and experiments in order to understand aspects of their
evolution and behaviour. Primatologists often divide primates into three groups for study: dominant females, females and young, and peripheral males.