Compared with many other mammals, primates have a generalized skeleton. Primates have many specialized (derived) anatomical features, but in many ways, the primate skeleton is a primitive one, retaining many of the skeletal features of the most primitive mammals and even primitive terrestrial vertebrates.he diets of most primates are varied and their teeth reflect this variability in diet. Large Brains One of the hallmark characteristics of primates is their large brain size. Primates in general have larger brains relative to body size than most other mammals.