Food

Abstract

The fact that mammalian teeth, jaws, jaw muscles and associated features of skull architecture reflect adaptation to particular feeding habits requires no stressing; it is a common place of elementary zoological teaching. What is not usually included in traditional textbook treatments is the fact that such structural adaptation presupposes appropriate behavioural adaptation. In the course of evolution, structural change must have been accompanied by the selection of corresponding behaviour patterns; indeed, grounds can be adduced for believing that behavioural evolution led the way (Ewer, 1960). It is therefore not surprising to find that most mammals show highly characteristic methods of feeding and of obtaining their food, as well as an ability to select the type of food normal for their species.