SYMPOSIUM
Pitheciins: Ecology & Conservation
XXI Congress of the International
Primatological Society
The International Context: Pitheciins and Patterns of Seed Predation in the
Neotropics, Africa and Asia
Norconk, M.A., B.W. Grafton & W.S. McGraw

Fruit eating predominates primate feeding strategies with morphological indicators, such as expanded
molars, appearing early in the fossil record. While many modern primates are recognized as important
seed dispersers, little is known about the nutritional, morphological or behavioral limitations imposed on
seed-eating primates. We surveyed the literature and found 18 genera that met our criteria and used
this database of seed predators to ask two questions. Do primate seed predators share plant taxa used
as feeding sources (suggesting a common nutritional reward)? And, are there any common
morphological traits that characterize all seed-eating primates? A total of 81 plant families (331 genera)
were documented as used by primate seed predators worldwide, with 19 plant families (23.4%) shared
by all three primate radiations. Neotropical seed predators (the pitheciines and Cebus spp) included
significantly more seed species in their diets (Kruskal-Wallis, p < 0.002) than either prosimians or Old
World monkeys. Of several morphological specializations possibly linked to seed predation, only
mandibular robusticity appeared to be shared among primate seed predators. Based on dietary and
morphological indicators, pitheciins appear to be the most specialized primate seed predators, but
almost ¼ of the plant families (principally Euphorbiaceae, Papilionaceae, Mimosaceae, Sapindaceae and
Moraceae) were shared by all three radiations of primates suggesting possible convergence on
resources with relatively high rewards or low levels of feeding deterrents.

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© 2005-2006  Liza Maria Veiga
Above: saki infant (Pithecia pithecia)
Photo: Dave Winkler, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo