[albemuth]

When you compare the meat yield of persistence hunting vs. rock climbing, PH's case does come out quite stronger.

[kingkongreveng_]

I doubt anybody has empirically compared anything with regard to persistence hunting.

Might as well talk about meat yields of diving for shellfish. Some people think this was a major human activity.

It's all supposition.

[elblanco]

Well, we do have a rather pronounced diving reflex.

[a-priori]

I was under the impression that ours was one of the weakest of the mammals...

[elblanco]

Compared to marine mammals yes. But I've read someplace that ours is remarkably strong for a supposedly completely non-aquatic mammal.