Primates

A Study in Primates Reveals How the Brain Encodes Complex Social Interactions The research tracks, at the level of individual neurons, what happens when a monkey hangs out with other monkeys. It even found a possible neural code for empathy By Lydia Denworth Credit: Zane Michael Cooper/Getty ImagesReciprocity—I scratch your back; you scratch mine—has long been thought to be one of the hallmarks of friendship and other close relationships. In the world of nonhuman primates, the back-scratching is literal. Monkeys take…

A study on vervet monkeys has identified stable social traditions within different groups, particularly in grooming behaviors, indicating that these animals pass on social customs through generations. Males adapt their social behaviors to conform to the norms of new groups, showcasing a form of social conformity among non-human primates. Credit: Charlotte Canteloupindividuals residing in different communities adhere to distinct social traditions or norms. For example, in certain areas, it’s customary to greet everyone you…

A new study of the extinct fossil ape Lufengpithecus from China offers groundbreaking insights into human bipedalism’s evolutionary origins. By analyzing the semicircular canals of the inner ear, researchers from the IVPP, YICRA, and NYU found evidence of locomotor patterns ancestral to bipedalism. The study highlights the significant role of environmental changes in the evolution of ape and human locomotion, contributing to our understanding of how human bipedalism evolved from a diverse ancestral locomotor repertoire.…

New research reveals that primates, including previously thought solitary Strepsirrhines, exhibit diverse social organizations, with research suggesting pair-living as the most common ancestral state, challenging earlier views and highlighting the complexity of primate social structures.Primates, including humans, are generally considered to be very social creatures, with numerous monkey and ape species forming groups. In contrast, lemurs and other Strepsirrhines, commonly known as “wet-nosed” primates, have traditionally…

An artist’s impression of a group of G. blacki within a forest in southern China. Credit: Garcia/Joannes-Boyau (Southern Cross University)In the karst landscapes of southern China, giant apes, known as Gigantopithecus blacki, once traversed the terrain. These massive creatures, standing three meters tall and weighing about 250 kilograms, are considered distant relatives of humans. Although they vanished before humans settled in the area, the reasons for their extinction remain largely a mystery. The only evidence of their…

Only some animals are known to fathom object permanence – the idea that something still exists even when it's out of sight. Oriental pied hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris) are one of the few with an advanced understanding, a new study confirms. It's a clever skill that comes in handy when nesting females seal themselves out of sight in tree hollows, relying on their mate to bring them food.To lay and tend to their eggs in safety, female Oriental pied hornbills brick themselves into their refuge with dollops of mud,…

Skulls of 29 million-year-old primates used in this study Aegyptopithecus on left Parapithecus on right. Credit: Matt BorthsA study led by the University of Otago reveals that humans’ preference for sweet flavors traces back to our early primate relatives. This research illuminates the eating behaviors of ancient anthropoids, encompassing extinct monkeys and apes, by examining patterns of tooth chips and cavities.Published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology, the study used fossils from the Fayum Depression…

Three-dimensional model of the only known picrodontid skull in top (left) and bottom (right) views. CT scan technology revealed previously unknown bones of the skull (colored on the right) that helped demonstrate that picrodontids are not primates as previously believed. Credit: Jordan CrowellA student and a professor from CUNY’s Graduate Center and Brooklyn College have pruned a branch off the primate tree.New research reveals that picrodontids, small extinct mammals, are not related to primates. This discovery, made by…

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have found evidence of female-biased and equal power structures in primates, challenging the traditional view of universal male dominance. Credit: SciTechDaily.comA groundbreaking study reveals that female-biased and equal power structures are common in primates, contradicting the assumption of widespread male dominance and highlighting the significance of female roles in primate societies.Male dominance has long been assumed to be nearly universal in primates, with female…

A study on wild gray mouse lemurs by the German Primate Center revealed that higher cognitive skills and exploratory behavior contribute to longer lifespans. The research, which included various cognitive and personality tests, indicates that intelligence and physical vigor are key strategies for survival in wildlife.Mouse lemurs that perform better in cognitive tests live longer.Cognitive abilities not only vary among different species but also among individuals within the same species. It is expected that smarter…