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Dryad

Palm-primate interactions: Number of palm species and palm species identity in primate diets according to region (Africa, Asia, Madagascar, Neotropics); Parts of palm species consumed by primates according to region; palm species of high importance in primate diets according to region; palm seed dispersal by primates according to region

Data files

Aug 14, 2020 version files 74.73 KB

Abstract

We compiled data on palms in the diets of primates and on palm seed dispersal by primates to criticially discuss the hypothesis by Onstein et al. 2020 (Proc R Soc B) that "the interactions between primates and palms are related to the co-evolutionary dynamics of primate colour vision systems and palm fruit colours". Our copilation of data on interactions between palms and primates suggests that the mutualism-dependent co-diversification scenario deployed by Onstein et al. is not supported in view of the low
level of extant primate-palm interactions in Africa.