Which primate subdivision is characterized by prehensile tails and tree-dwelling habits?

The correct choice is characterized by primates that have prehensile tails, which are tails capable of grasping or holding objects, a notable adaptation for life in the trees. New World monkeys, found primarily in Central and South America, include several species such as capuchins and howler monkeys that exhibit these traits. Their prehensile tails aid significantly in their arboreal lifestyle, allowing them to maneuver through the canopy by grasping branches, thus enhancing their ability to forage for food and evade predators.

In contrast, Old World monkeys, which are found in Africa and Asia, possess different tail structures that are generally non-prehensile and predominantly live both in trees and on the ground. Prosimians, such as lemurs and tarsiers, are an earlier branch of primates that exhibit unique adaptations not necessarily involving prehensile tails—their traits and habitats differ significantly from those of New World monkeys. Anthropoids include both New World and Old World monkeys as well as apes, but this broad classification does not specifically denote the distinctive qualities of prehensile tails and tree-dwelling behaviors that define New World monkeys.