Comparative Primate Blog- Diet

 Primates vary in shapes and sizes, and in the same regard so does their diet. Most if not all primates inhabit the tropical and subtropical regions of various continents. Each have adapted to live and thrive in that area.

 Looking at lemurs we can see that they are mainly from the island of Madagascar, which is comprised of the mainland and several smaller islets. It had split from India 88 million years ago. Madagascar due to its climate is popular choice for growing both coffee and raising cattle. The business in turn increases the human element.

 The fact that lemurs are endemic to this area puts their survival at risk. Deforestation threatens both the population and their food source. The practice of cut and burning vegetation for both space and to produce fertile land has decreased their available food sources. Most lemurs consume insects and fruit, and some of the larger species will eat plant material the diet is highly limited. This however does not mean that a hungry lemur will only eat what is in their normal diet. They been known to consume small vertebrates and even the ring tailed lemur  who has a diet of mostly fruits and leaves will eat small birds and chameleons when hungry enough. They are considered opportunistic eaters and will consume most anything. However human influence has greatly increased and caused a shift their diet as seen in the picture below.

The Second type of primate the Spider Monkey are found in tropical forests and are native to both South and Central America. The lowland forests in where live receives high amounts of rainfall. The trees of these forests are rather large and the long limbs of the spider monkey help it to reach the fruit and nuts it prefers. These amazing primates consume the fruits whole and when they are excreted they are still whole and are fertilized in the process. Like Lemurs when there isn't enough food they have been known to consume various things including bark. 

Unfortunately due to their popularity as a food source and the effects of human interference 2 of the seven species are critically endangered while the other are listed as endangered.

Baboons which are found primarily in Africa, which has various climates and landscapes. Most noted for being hot and humid. They have a wide range when it comes to diet and will eat fish, fruit, insects, hares, and small antelopes. They have been observed eating goats and and sheep as well. There has been a myth of baboons raiding villages and stealing human babies, but it has not been proven.

As you can see  baboons have extremely large canines, thus making them an intimidating animal. Interestingly the canines are larger on males then females and while they do look like carnivores their teeth have no relation to their diet. The teeth are used for display purposes for both territorial fights and to ward off predators such lion, leopards, and hyenas.

Gibbons or lesser apes are native to the subtropical and tropical forests. China, India, and Indonesia. China and Indonesia being one of the largest concentrations of human populations are constantly threatening all species. As such they have adapted like other animals and have changed diets. The Gibbons which are omnivores eat a wide varieties of plants and fruits. 

Gibbons also eat insects and plant shoots on occasion. 

Perhaps the most unique when it comes to diet and method is the Chimpanzee. They are native to Africa and have been observed as being the closet relatives to humans. Their diet like the other primates listed is very diverse, yet unlike they others listed they been known to use tools to gather their desired meal. It has been observed that chimpanzees will sharpen sticks into spears using their teeth to capture a bush baby from its resting place inside trees. They also use sticks to fish out termites or use rocks to destroy the mounds. The level of intelligence shown allows them to be pickier with their diet and obtain whatever it is they want.