No animal alive today is ‘primitive’ – why are so many still labeled that way?

All species alive today, from chimpanzees to bacteria, are cousins that each have equally long lineages, rather than ancestors or descendants of one another.

By: Kevin Omland, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 9, 2026

Words: 925

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Kevin Omland, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

We humans have long viewed ourselves as the pinnacle of evolution. People label other species as “primitive” or “ancient” and use terms like “higher” and “lower” animals.

This anthropocentric perspective was entrenched in 1866, when German scientist Ernst Haeckel drew one of the first trees of life. He placed “Man,” clearly labeled, at the top. This illustration helped establish the popular view that we are the …

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