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Monkeys, lemurs and other primates from the Americas and Madagascar live most of the time in trees, while their large relatives in Africa (gorillas and chimpanzees) and Asia (orangutans) rarely leave the ground. In a study led by zoologist Timothy Eppley, from Portland State University, United States, a group of dozens of researchers, several of them Brazilian, analyzed 150,000 hours of observation of 47 species of arboreal primates in order to identify which characteristics carry some of them. to spend more time on the floor. The transition from tree to terrestrial life has occurred several times throughout primate evolution, and researchers suspect that human-induced changes in nature could force many arboreal species to live longer on the ground. Ecological factors, such as the increase in temperature and the reduction of tree canopy, and typical characteristics of the species (diet with fewer fruits and more numerous groups) favor the adoption of more terrestrial habits (PNAS, October 10). According to the authors, with changes in the environment and climate, species from warmer regions and more generic diets should start using the ground more.