n anthropology, the study of primate evolution was dominated by
three main theories. Primate evolution studies was triggered by the
question, “how early shrew-like mammals developed into the first primates’”
Three dominant theories emerged from this scientific question. The first
primate evolution theory, the ARBOREAL THEORY, is proposed by W. Jones in
1916. In this theory, Jones posited that enhanced primate characteristics
such as grasping hands and feet, binocular vision, and cognitive processing
are results of primates’ adaptation to arboreal life. However, the
weakness of this theory is that it does not explain how some arboreal
mammals do not possess the characteristics most arboreal mammals possess at
present, and yet, managed to survive throughout the ages. The MIXED-DIET
THEORY, on the other hand, argues that an increased exploitation of
angiosperms yielded to the development of primate characteristics.
However, the formulation of this theory is actually based on the VISUAL
PREDATION THEORY, considered perhaps the theory that best explains the
nature of primate evolution. Proposed by Matt Cartmill in 1974, the theory
argues that arboreal predatory behavior actually determined the development
of primate characteristics of grasping hands and feet and increased vision
and cognitive processing (also related to an increase in brain size). The
visual predation theory is an example of a scientific theory that looks at
behavior as a precursor to action—that is, in order for development to
occur, a stimulant is needed. In Cartmill’s theory, the stimulant or
catalyst that helped occur primate evolution and development is its nature
to survive. In order to provide means to survive, mammals that thrived and
increased in population 65 million years ago had survived and developed by
evolving their physical and cognitive characteristics, i.e., physical
features are a…