New England Primate Conservancy
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    • The Case of the Disappearing Habitat: The Candy Culprit-Get Started! >
      • Step 1: You're On the Case
      • Step 2: You Get a Clue
      • Step 3: The Investigation
      • Step 4: The Candy Boss
      • Step 5: The Case Isn't Closed Yet
      • Good Detective Strategies and Helpful Hints
    • Cyber Flashcards >
      • 10 of the most well known primate species
      • 10 of the weirdest primate species
      • 10 primate species you probably never heard of
      • 10 of the most endangered primates species
    • The Alphabet Soup of Conservation-Video and Introduction >
      • Alphabet Soup Activities
    • Your Evolutionary Family Tree-Start here >
      • Step 1: Observation
      • Step 2: Questions
      • Step 3: Background Research
      • Step 4: Hypothesis
      • Step 5: Experiment
      • Step 6: Analyze Data
      • Step 7: Conclusions
      • Step 8: Publish
      • Lab Notebook
    • Where Primates Live
    • Primates and Their Habitats Introduction >
      • Game 1: Monkey Match Up
      • Game 2: Concentration
      • Game 3: One Handed Solitaire
      • Game 4: Go Fish With a Twist
      • Activity 5: Whos in the Cards
    • Life in Tropical Rainforests Introduction >
      • Activity 1: Rainforest Matching Game
      • Activity 2: Living Between the Layers
      • Activity 3: Where in the World
      • Activity 4: Finding Fun Rainforest Facts
      • Activity 5: You Can Help Rainforests
  • Primates At-a-Glance
    • African Apes At-a-Glance
    • African Monkeys At-a-Glance
    • African Prosimians At-a-Glance
    • Asian Apes At-a-Glance
    • Asian Monkeys At-a-Glance
    • Asian Prosimians At-a-Glance
    • Latin American Monkeys At-a-Glance
  • Primate Profiles
    • Apes of Africa >
      • Bonobos
      • Chimpanzees
      • Gorillas
    • Apes of Asia >
      • Orangutans
      • Gibbons
    • Monkeys of Africa >
      • Allenopithecus
      • Baboons
      • Colobus Monkeys
      • Geladas
      • Grivets, Tantalus, Malbroucks, and Vervets
      • Guenons
      • Kipunjis
      • African Macaque
      • Mandrills
      • Mangabeys
      • Patas Monkeys
    • Monkeys of Asia >
      • Langurs, Leaf Monkeys, Lutungs, Surilis
      • Macaques
      • Proboscis Monkeys
      • Snub-Nosed Monkeys
    • Monkeys of Latin America >
      • Capuchin Monkeys
      • Howler Monkeys
      • Marmosets
      • Muriquis
      • Night or Owl Monkeys
      • Saki Monkeys
      • Spider Monkeys
      • Squirrel Monkeys
      • Tamarins
      • Titi Monkeys
      • Uakaris
      • Woolly Monkeys
    • Prosimians of Africa >
      • Galagos or Bushbabies
      • Lemurs
      • Pottos
    • Prosimians of Asia >
      • Lorises
      • Tarsiers
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Primates and their Habitats

Activities for introducing the diversity of nonhuman primate species
​and the habitats ​in which they live​ 
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Most nonhuman primates live in the world’s rainforests. But did you know that some live in dry semi-deserts? Or that some live in cold, snowy mountains and other regions that may surprise you? Did you know that, because we humans are moving our settlements into their habitats, some primates live in cities alongside humans? Yet—despite the diversity of their habitats—did you know that 69% of the world’s primate species are threatened by extinction? ​43% are considered to be Critically Endangered or Endangered. All are at risk due to habitat loss—and most habitat loss is due to human activity.

Nonhuman primates are indicator species for the health of ecosystems. That means that if their habitats are in danger, so is every other creature that lives there. Each ecosystem includes exactly the right number, combination, and diversity of plants and animals to create a beautiful, interdependent relationship that allows it to flourish. This interdependence is why biodiversity exists. Biodiversity keeps the Earth and her creatures living and thriving.

The good news is that because most habitat destruction is due to human activity, it is preventable, repairable, and reversible. We cannot and should not sit back and wait for someone else to do something. We must each be the change that we hope for.

The first step is to learn about the many diverse primate species, where they naturally live, and what they need to thrive, survive, and produce future generations. Their futures are dependent upon the survival of the ecosystems that nurture and support them, and that they nurture in return.

​​Learn where your favorite monkeys and apes live as you enjoy playing these card games. And maybe someday you can help protect them.
Learning Goals:
  • Introduction to the diversity of primate species
  • Gain familiarity with the difference between apes, monkeys, and prosimians
  • Understand that primate species can vary greatly in appearance
  • Learn where in the world primate species naturally live
  • Learn some world geography
  • Understand that nonhuman primates live naturally in habitats to which they are specifically adapted
  • Learn that, although most primate species live in the canopy of the world’s rainforests, many live in other surprising habitats
  • Gain awareness that animal species are adapted to nourish their habitats and those same habitats nourish the animals that live in them
  • ​Learn that a primate’s appearance can be an indicator of its native habitat​

Play and Learn

THE DECK
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The cards in this photo are printed on white card stock
​The cards introduce just a few of the 250-ish primate species
THE GAMES
Game 1:
​Monkey Match-Up

​A memory game f
or younger players
Game 2:
​ Concentration

​A more challenging memory and matching game
Game 3:
​One-Handed Solitaire

​A fun solitaire game
Game 4: 
​Go Fish—With a Twist

​A “fishing” game for multiple players
Activity 5: 
​Who's in the Cards
​Learn about the habitats and primates featured in the card deck.

​FEATURED HABITATS
The habitats are identified as “suits” on the cards by the following icons:​​
Mangrove
Mountain
Rainforest
Savannah
Semi-Arid
Urban

​MATERIALS AND PREPARATION

The Cards

​​​36 game cards include 27 primate cards and 9 habitat cards.
Note: There are three times as many rainforest cards in the deck because most nonhuman primates live in the world’s tropical rainforests
​

​1. Download the printable game cards. ​
​
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

​2. Print the cards. For best results, print on card stock. Laminate if you wish.
​
​
3. Cut to create a 36-card deck.
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HELPFUL RESOURCES
  • ​​​Primate Facts
    • The biological order of primates
    • Where primates live
    • The differences between New World and Old World monkeys
  • Where Primate Live Video and Activity
  • Life in the World’s Tropical Rainforests
  • Conservation Statuses: The Alphabet Soup of Conservation
  • People and Other Primates
  • African Apes At-a-Glance
  • African Monkeys At-a-Glance
  • African Prosimians At-a-Glance
  • Asian Apes At-a-Glance
  • Asian Monkeys At-a-Glance
  • Asian Prosimians At-a-Glance
  • Latin American Monkeys At-a-Glance
  • Primate Species Profiles​
  • What You Can Do to Help Animals and the Environment

Copyright © New England Primate Conservancy 2018, You may freely use, copy and share these Learning Activities for educational purposes. 
For questions or comments, e-mail us at info@neprimateconservancy.org. 
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Merrimac, MA 01860
​USA
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​All Rights Reserved.
  • Primate Conservation
    • Primate Conservation
    • Primate Facts
    • Conservationist Limelight
    • Primates in Animal Studies
  • Education
    • What is Humane Education?
    • The Case of the Disappearing Habitat: The Candy Culprit-Get Started! >
      • Step 1: You're On the Case
      • Step 2: You Get a Clue
      • Step 3: The Investigation
      • Step 4: The Candy Boss
      • Step 5: The Case Isn't Closed Yet
      • Good Detective Strategies and Helpful Hints
    • Cyber Flashcards >
      • 10 of the most well known primate species
      • 10 of the weirdest primate species
      • 10 primate species you probably never heard of
      • 10 of the most endangered primates species
    • The Alphabet Soup of Conservation-Video and Introduction >
      • Alphabet Soup Activities
    • Your Evolutionary Family Tree-Start here >
      • Step 1: Observation
      • Step 2: Questions
      • Step 3: Background Research
      • Step 4: Hypothesis
      • Step 5: Experiment
      • Step 6: Analyze Data
      • Step 7: Conclusions
      • Step 8: Publish
      • Lab Notebook
    • Where Primates Live
    • Primates and Their Habitats Introduction >
      • Game 1: Monkey Match Up
      • Game 2: Concentration
      • Game 3: One Handed Solitaire
      • Game 4: Go Fish With a Twist
      • Activity 5: Whos in the Cards
    • Life in Tropical Rainforests Introduction >
      • Activity 1: Rainforest Matching Game
      • Activity 2: Living Between the Layers
      • Activity 3: Where in the World
      • Activity 4: Finding Fun Rainforest Facts
      • Activity 5: You Can Help Rainforests
  • Primates At-a-Glance
    • African Apes At-a-Glance
    • African Monkeys At-a-Glance
    • African Prosimians At-a-Glance
    • Asian Apes At-a-Glance
    • Asian Monkeys At-a-Glance
    • Asian Prosimians At-a-Glance
    • Latin American Monkeys At-a-Glance
  • Primate Profiles
    • Apes of Africa >
      • Bonobos
      • Chimpanzees
      • Gorillas
    • Apes of Asia >
      • Orangutans
      • Gibbons
    • Monkeys of Africa >
      • Allenopithecus
      • Baboons
      • Colobus Monkeys
      • Geladas
      • Grivets, Tantalus, Malbroucks, and Vervets
      • Guenons
      • Kipunjis
      • African Macaque
      • Mandrills
      • Mangabeys
      • Patas Monkeys
    • Monkeys of Asia >
      • Langurs, Leaf Monkeys, Lutungs, Surilis
      • Macaques
      • Proboscis Monkeys
      • Snub-Nosed Monkeys
    • Monkeys of Latin America >
      • Capuchin Monkeys
      • Howler Monkeys
      • Marmosets
      • Muriquis
      • Night or Owl Monkeys
      • Saki Monkeys
      • Spider Monkeys
      • Squirrel Monkeys
      • Tamarins
      • Titi Monkeys
      • Uakaris
      • Woolly Monkeys
    • Prosimians of Africa >
      • Galagos or Bushbabies
      • Lemurs
      • Pottos
    • Prosimians of Asia >
      • Lorises
      • Tarsiers
    • Glossary
  • How To Help Wildlife
    • What You Can Do
    • Personal Choices
    • Using media
    • In Your Community
  • About
    • What We Do
    • Education Team
    • Board of Directors
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
  • Donate Today