Rhinarium



The rhinarium is the wet, naked surface around the nostrils of the nose in most mammals. Colloquially it might be called a "wet snout".

Primates are phylogenetically divided into Strepsirrhini ("lower primates" with rhinariums) and Haplorrhini ("higher primates" without rhinariums). Strepsirrhini have a rhinarium with the upper lip attached internally.

The presence of a rhinarium is associated with general features of the skull, especially the lateral placement of the eyes, and its absence with front-facing eyes. Mammals with rhinariums have a stronger sense of olfaction.

Rhinarium Nuesspigel