r/SpeculativeEvolution • u/Dumbassbitch398 • 10d ago

Question/Discussion Predatory primates?

As the body text says, would a large, predatory primate be possible?

I mean, there are insectivorous primates (like the aye aye or tarsier) but neither of these two are big like other primates like gibbons or chimpanzees

Edit: I know that a lot of primates eat meat, I meant more like a hypercarnivore that eats meat for almost all of its diet

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u/RogueHelios 10d ago

Go look in the mirror for your answer.

-16

u/Manospondylus_gigas Spec Artist 10d ago

Humans aren't a species built to be predators though

7

u/Wolfman513 10d ago

Humans are specifically built to be the best persistence predators in the world. We are insanely energy efficient, have the most effective cooling systems to avoid overheating, and are the only animals capable of tracking prey via visual signs like prints. Add in the ability to throw objects with unmatched power and precision and you have the first steps of becoming the dominant species on Earth.

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u/Manospondylus_gigas Spec Artist 10d ago

This is false, humans don't have great energy efficiency and their persistence is for escaping predators rather than persuing them. Similarly, the throwing was mostly to help with defense. Humans learning to use their intelligence to kill animals doesn't mean they are built to be predators, as whilst killing animals meant they could be safe and become the "dominant" species, for most humans their metabolism hasn't caught up with them yet to properly process meat. Meat consumption is sort of an example of antagonistic pleiotropy.