Re: Predators prefer to hunt small brained prey

[Michael Habib <mhabib5@jhmi.edu>]

There is the additional issue that total brain size may relate to 
sensory performance important to escape behavior (rather than 
'intelligent' responses per se).  I'd like to see a similar study run 
on birds, for example.  Species with high maneuverability probably have 
larger brains simply for responding to obstacles (bats that fly in 
cluttered environments have larger brains, if I recall correctly).  
Since evading predators requires similar skills, it stands to reason 
that big brains will correlate with predator resistance in that case.

In the particular predator/prey choices from the paper, I agree that 
group living is likely a more important (and confounding) variable.

Cheers,

--Mike Habib

On Wednesday, August 2, 2006, at 07:35 PM, Dann Pigdon wrote:

> Quoting Jura <pristichampsus@yahoo.com>:
>
> > I think what we have here is a prime example of a case
> > where correlation does not equal causation.
> >
> > Given the examples cited in the report, I'd wager that
> > the degree of group living probably plays a larger
> > role in prey selection than brain size would. Chimps
> > might get attacked less often because there are
> > numerous members willing to flog the predator with
> > sticks and stones during the predation attempt.
> > Antelope (and red   river hogs) usually just run away
> > when faced with the same situation.