Researchers from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom that have been studying primates in Central and South America found that some species consume up to 50 varieties of fruit in a single day.
Researchers from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom studying primates in Central and South America have found that some species consume up to 50 varieties of fruit in a single day.
The results are based on data from 290 different primate studies spanning a period of 42 years.
The researchers found a correlation between primate size and their dietary choices.
Medium sized primates reportedly consume the most fruit, with Saki monkeys one of the biggest fruit eaters out of the species studied.
According to Doctor Joseph Hawes, a co-author of the study: “Smaller monkeys, which have higher metabolic requirements, eat more insects as they provide a high quality source of nutrients and calories. It is only the larger primates that are able to cope with the higher levels of toxins that are typically found in leaves. They have a more complex gut.”
Although people tend to associate monkeys with bananas, the research shows that the most popular fruit among primates are from the Pouteria and Brosimum trees.
The research sheds light onto the varied conservation needs of different species and will help experts learn more about the plants that live in tropical forests.
