Anthropology
In anthropology, the study of primate evolution was dominated bythree main theories. Primate evolution studies was triggered by thequestion, "how early shrew-like mammals developed into the first primates'" Three dominant theories emerged from this scientific question. The firstprimate evolution theory, the ARBOREAL THEORY, is proposed by W. Jones in1916. In this theory, Jones posited that enhanced primate characteristics
However, the formulation of this theory is actually based on the VISUALPREDATION THEORY, considered perhaps the theory that best explains thenature of primate evolution. Proposed by Matt Cartmill in 1974, the theoryargues that arboreal predatory behavior actually determined the developmentof primate characteristics of grasping hands and feet and increased visionand cognitive processing (also related to an increase in brain size). The MIXED-DIETTHEORY, on the other hand, argues that an increased exploitation ofangiosperms yielded to the development of primate characteristics. asping hands and feet, binocular vision, and cognitive processingare results of primates' adaptation to arboreal life. However, theweakness of this theory is that it does not explain how some arborealmammals do not possess the characteristics most arboreal mammals possess atpresent, and yet, managed to survive throughout the ages. In order to provide means to survive, mammals that thrived andincreased in population 65 million years ago had survived and developed byevolving their physical and cognitive characteristics, i. , physicalfeatures are altered to adapt to its needs and cognitive processingincreases (cognitive development) in correspondence to physicaldevelopment. Thevisual predation theory is an example of a scientific theory that looks atbehavior as a precursor to action-that is, in order for development tooccur, a stimulant is needed. In Cartmill's theory, the stimulant orcatalyst that helped occur primate evolution and development is its natureto survive.
Common topics in this essay:
Matt Cartmill,
ARBOREAL THEORY,
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MIXED-DIET THEORY,
PREDATION THEORY,
primate evolution,
primate characteristics,
cognitive processing,
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visual predation theory,
grasping hands feet,
grasping hands,
vision cognitive,
hands feet,
characteristics grasping hands,
characteristics grasping,
arboreal mammals,
development primate,
predation theory,
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