Abstract
In order to meet their metabolic needs, mammals achieve a faster rate of digestion by adding oral processing of solids to the sequence of digestive processes which occur further down the gut. They presumably evolved a mechanical system, rather than increasing the length of their guts, because the cost of mechanical processing is less than the cost of carrying around very large quantities of food. Since increased locomotor activity accompanied, and may have depended on, an increased metabolic rate in comparison to reptiles (Martin, 1980), an increase in inert bulk is not a good solution to the problem.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Clutton-Brock, T.H. and Harvey, P.H. (1977) Species differences in feeding and ranging behaviour in primates. In “Feeding Ecology” ( T.H. Clutton-Brock, ed.), pp. 557–584. Academic, London.
Crompton, A.W. and Sita-Lumsden, A.G. (1970) Functional significance of therian molar patterns. Nature 227: 678–679.
Epstein, B. (1947) The mathematical description of certain breakage mechanisms leading to the logarithmico-normal distribution. J. Franklin Inst. 244: 471–477.
Freeman, P.W. (1979) Specialised insectivory: beetle-eating and moth-eating molossid bats. J. Mammal. 60: 467–479.
Gardner, R.P. and Austin, L.G. (1962) A chemical engineering treatment of batch grinding. In “Zeinerkleinen Symposion” (H. Rumpf, ed. ), pp. 217–248.
Verlag Chemie, Dusseldorf. Gaudin, A.M. and Meloy, T.P. (1962) Model and a comminution equation for single fracture. A.I.M. E. Trans. 223: 40–43.
Grine, F.E. (1981) Trophic differences between ‘gracile’ and ’robust’ australopithecines: a scanning electron microscope analysis of occlusal events. S. Afr. J. Sci. 77: 203–230.
Harvey, P.H., Kavanagh, M. and Clutton-Brock, T.H. (1978) Sexual dimorphism in primate teeth. J. Zool. (Lond.) 186: 475–485.
Hayes, M.H. (1968) “Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners”, 16th Edn. Paul, London.
Hiiemae, K. (1978) Mammalian mastication: a review of the activity of the jaw muscles and the movements they produce in chewing. In “Development, Function and Evolution of Teeth” ( P.M. Butler and K.A. Joysey, eds.), pp. 359–398. Academic, London.
Jolly, C.J. (1970) The seed eaters: a new model of hominid differentiation. Man 5: 1–26.
Kay, R.F. (1975) Allometry and early hominids. Science 189: 63.
Lucas, P.W. (1979) The dental-dietary adaptations of mammals. N. Jb. Geol. Palëont. Mh. 8: 486–512.
Lucas, P.W. (1980) Biomaterials as foods. In “The Mechanical Properties of Biological Materials” (J.F. V. Vincent and J.D. Currey, eds. ), pp. 463–464.
Cambridge Univ. Press. Luke, D.A. and Lucas, P.W. (1982) The significance of cusps. J. Oral Rehab. (in press).
Maier, W. (1980) Konstruktionsmorphologie Untersuchungen am Gebiss der rezenten Prosimiae (Primates). Abh. senckenb. naturforsch. Ges. 538: 1–158.
Martin, R.D. (1980) Body temperature, activity and energy costs. Nature 283: 335–336.
Osborn, J.W. and Lumsden, A.G.S. (1978) An alternative to “thegosis” and a re-examination of the ways in which mammalian molars work. N. Jb. Palaeont. Abh. 156: 371–392.
Pilbeam, D. and Gould, S.J. (1975) Size and scaling in human evolution. Science 186: 892–901.
Rensberger, J.M. (1973a) Sanctimus (Mammalia, Rodentia) and the phyletic relationships of the large Arikareean geomyoids. J. Paleont. 47: 835–853.
Rensberger, J.M. (1973b) An occlusion model for mastication and dental wear in herbivorous mammals. J. Paleont. 47: 515528.
Vincent, J.F.V. (1982) “Structural Biomaterials”. Macmillan, London.
Wainwright, S.A., Biggs, W.D., Currey, J.D. and Gosline, J.M. (1976) “Mechanical Design in Organisms”. Arnold, London.
Wood, B.A. (1979) An analysis of tooth and body size relationships in five primate taxa. Folia primatol. 31: 187–211.
Yurkstas, A.A. and Manly, R.S. (1950) Value of different test foods in estimating masticatory ability. J. Appl. Physiol. 3: 45–53.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1984 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lucas, P.W., Luke, D.A. (1984). Chewing It over: Basic Principles of Food Breakdown. In: Chivers, D.J., Wood, B.A., Bilsborough, A. (eds) Food Acquisition and Processing in Primates. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-5244-1_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-5244-1_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-5246-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-5244-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive