Primate Diet and Locomotory Behaviour

What do small primates often consume?

High quality foods such as fruit and insects as they have a higher metabolic rate and cannot consume large amounts of food

What do large-bodied primates often consume?

Low-nutrient foods such as leaves as they have a lower metabolic rate and can consume large amounts of food

What is locomotory behaviour?

An organism's movement from one place to another in response to internal or external stimuli

What are examples of different locomotory behaviour?

• Verical clinging and leaping (some prosimians)

• Quadrupedal climbins (arboreal) meaning all four limbs are in the trees

• Quadrupedal (terrestrial) meaning all four limbs are on the ground

• Brachiation which is arm swinging (gibbon)

• Knucle walking (gorilla and chimp)

What do different forms of locomotor behaviour allow?

Exploitation of different habitats and ecological niches