Primate Nutrition

[MonDie]

My intention was to get some suggestions about resources to use, but discussion is good too. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot out there about primate diets. I've read some of Primate Behavioral Ecology by Strier, so I might contribute.

 

Folivorous primates have to counteract the toxins in leaves, which they might do by eating other things. No, the colobus monkey eating burnt wood doesn't have Pica.

The book says insects and leaves are high in amino acids. I eat seaweed, and I read that seaweeds have all essential amino acids. Maybe it was a misunderstanding of this webpage since I was only skimming the "Abstract" portion.

http://www.sciencedi...308814606007655

Leaves are so plentiful, and might we benefit from making them edible? Other primates are already doing it.

 

"Primates such as howler monkeys, which include a high proportion of leaves in their diets, have even longer large intestines and colons than expected from their body size, giving them longer food passage rates to absorb the nutrients from leaves, which are generally more difficult to digest than fruit (Milton, 1984a). The sacculated stomachs of the Old World colobine monkeys that provide opportunities for microbial action to break down leaves are part of their evolutionarily successful specialization for folivory. And, perhaps because this specialization requires the maintenance of an ionic balance in their guts, many (but not all) colobines tend to avoid mature, sugar rich fruits (Kay and Davies, 1994; Waterman and Kool, 1994)."

 

(Strier 184-5)

 

Strier, Karen. Primate Behavioral Ecology. 3rd ed. Allyn and Bacon, 2007. Print.

Edited April 6, 2012 by Mondays Assignment: Die

[MonDie]

I just found a good one for really cheap! I changed my mind and will not reveal the name yet.

Edited April 7, 2012 by Mondays Assignment: Die