Primate Evolution
Variation in the choices of food on a daily, seasonal, and yearly basis is one of the greatest differences between primate species. Primate diets have generally been divided into three main food categories-fruit, leaves and fauna (including insects, spiders, and birds eggs for the most part). ... These gross dietary categories are correlated with aspects of primate activity patterns such as home range and group size. ... Knowing the trends of evolution, the next thing to do is to look at how it relates to humans. ... This is linked to metabolic rate, whereby the smaller the primate, the faster the metabolism (Gaulin and Konner 1977). ... Aye-ayes consume a large proportion of insects in their diet and are considerably larger than most other primate. ... The primate gut is very sensitive to the differences between C3 and C4 plants. ... Is there a primate analogue to the human gut? ... The study of primate diets is an important aspect of paleonutrition. ... Although some connections are somewhat tenuous, primate studies can provide a living perspective on the direction of human evolution. ... Although the majority of primate species tend to emphasize some food items or others, most eat a combination of fruit, leaves, and insects.