Talk:Arboreal theory

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The Arboreal Theory has been disputed by scholars, as there are many arboreal animals that do not have primate features such as the forward facing eyes, fingernails instead of claws, reduced olfaction (sense of smell) as well as tactile, grasping hands. When regarding Sciurids the terrestrial species actually have greater orbital convergence (forward facing eyes) than arboreal species. Primates probably did not develop their features due to life in the trees.

Reference: Cartmill, M. 1974. 'Rethinking Primate Origines' Science, vol. 184, p. 436-43

So what's the alternate theory? I haven't read this article, but this is the first I've heard of it, after many decades of writing about biology. Also, while it's interesting that not all arboreal species have the exact same constellation of traits as primates, I'm not convinced that's a nail in the coffin for stereoscopic vision, an enlarged neocortex, and grasping hands and feet being adaptations to arboreal life. Any more on this than this one 25 year old paper? After all evolution is partly historical too, not all purely adaptive.

Eperotao (talk) 23:46, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Date?

When did mammals first take to the trees? --1000Faces (talk) 18:48, 31 December 2007 (UTC)