Ancient relatives of eagles not only hunted and ate early humans but also influenced how our species evolved, a new study suggests.
In addition, the research appears to settle a long-running debate over what killed a prehistoric child in Africa 2.5 million years ago.
The findings are based on an analysis of more than 600 modern-day monkey bones collected beneath the nests of African crowned eagles in the rain forests of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
The monkey remains revealed that the eagles—which typically weigh between 10 and 12 pounds (4.5 and 5 kilograms)—frequently kill and eat primates weighing up to 24 pounds (11 kilograms).
The researchers say that they were surprised to find that large monkey species that live on the ground are a common target for the raptors.
The study suggests that birds of prey “have been a selective force in primate evolution for a long time,” says lead study author W. Scott McGraw, an associate professor of anthropology at Ohio State University in Columbus.
National Geographic (thanks, Fosca)
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Really? interesting…
Next evolution is consciousness. (:
Thats why the Kites keep flying around Seacroft, they’re choosing who to eat next lol
Superb research , ofcourse any flying object with claws and a beakon into meat will also try to catch those. If you see present birds of prey from up close you really know that they still would not dislike seeing to you as well, although, once they are hunting and have another target they sort of can’t see you properly (they can’t refocus). I’ve been poking my finger almost in the chest of one of those trying to get it away from the bird cage … but man, was that one stubborn. Beautifull birds.
But they can’t redirect that well, once disturbed. That I found amazing. Jumping up and down .. look at me .. meeeee .. Very upstuck bloke.
I’m just curious as to why they stopped hunting humans? Obviously they were the natural selectors for whatever indegenous people were in their hunting ground, and so the strong/more evasive humans survived… but now many generations on, dodging eagles is an ancestral trait I really don’t see in the youth of today. Mayhaps if kids stopped playing their Xb360s for long enough to step out into the sunlight, the sky would be awash with eagles carrying obese children to their nests?