
Creodonts were ancient carnivorous mammals that filled a niche similar to that of modern carnivores, and the ones on the island were likely wolf-sized. “Primatologists have observed large raptors taking monkeys from trees. When a raptor approaches a group of monkeys, those monkeys will make alarm calls to warn their group and attempt to retreat to lower branches. The primates on Rusinga had monkey-like postcrania and likely had very similar locomotor behaviour,” Jenkins said.
Although uncertain about the impact these killings had on our ancestors, Jenkins said they “can affect behaviour, group structure, body size and ontogeny (the life cycle of a single organism).” Robert Sussman, professor of physical anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis concluded, “Despite popular theories posed in research papers and popular literature, early man was not an aggressive killer. Our intelligence, cooperation and many other features we have as modern humans developed from our attempts to out-smart the predator.”The discovery was announced today at the Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology’s 70th Anniversary Meeting in Pittsburgh. (ANI) Via: 1
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