Monkeys hunt for meat when fruit is scarce, revealing clues to human ancestors’ diets
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
In northeastern Brazil, bearded capuchin monkeys actively hunt small vertebrates when fruit becomes scarce.
Researchers Noemi Spagnoletti and colleagues observed a group of Sapajus libidinosus monkeys for over five thousand hours between 2006 and 2010, recording their food choices. They found the monkeys consumed 281 animals, with lizards and rodents making up nearly half and a quarter of those meals respectively, also including birds, opossums, and snakes.
The study revealed the monkeys hunted more often during periods with less fruit available. Hunting provided an alternative food source, even though catching animals required more effort than simply gathering fruit. The monkeys often prioritized eating the brains and internal organs of their prey, likely for the concentrated fats and nutrients. Scientists are interested in these monkeys because they share characteristics with humans, including relatively large brains, tool use, and bipedalism.
Primatologist Susana Carvalho of Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique suggests that studying bearded capuchins can help understand how early humans may have incorporated more meat into their diets during times of food shortage. Our ancestors may have begun by hunting small animals before moving on to larger game, and researchers should look for evidence of this in the fossil record.
