Nutritional contributions of insects to primate diets: implications for primate evolution.

摘要: Insects and other invertebrates form a portion of many living extinct primate diets. We review the nutritional profiles insects in comparison with dietary items, discuss insect nutrients relation to needs primates. find that are incorporated into some diets as staple foods whereby they majority food intake. They can also be complements diet, providing protein diet otherwise dominated by gums and/or fruits, or supplements likely provide an essential nutrient is not available typical diet. During times when very abundant, such outbreaks, serve replacements usual eaten Nutritionally, high fat compared items like fruit vegetation. However, small size for larger primates (>1 kg) it usually nutritionally profitable only consume large quantities. In quantities, may important vitamins fatty acids typically unavailable brief analysis, we found soft-bodied higher though similar chitin than hard-bodied insects. fossil record, defined soft- feeders based on dental morphology. The differences composition have implications understanding early evolution ecology.