What is the Relationship Between Brain Size and Digestion?
Katharine Milton’s “Diet and Primate Evolution” indicates a relationship between brain size and gut size by examining two species of primates with a one common ancestor. Spider monkeys seem to be very intelligent animals and possess large brains. Howler monkeys have a similar body size, but the spider monkey’s brain weighs twice that of the howlers. A large brain is advantageous in a tree dwellers life because it allows for memory and recognition. Fruit-bearing trees are sparse in the specific Panama forest Milton was studying in and spider monkeys have an advantage over other species if they are able to remember where fruit-bearing trees are located. Fruit-dependent species must also know when the fruit is ripe. Spider monkeys also show an ability to recognize members of their particular social unit and communicate through food-related calls to other members in their region. These food-related calls allow the spider monkeys to take advantage of all fruit-bearing trees over a large are
