Primates

Analysis and Comment (8)

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An exotic pet – like this slow loris – won’t have come to you voluntarily. Michael Whitehead

Dear Santa, please don’t deliver exotic pets for Christmas!

By Carla Litchfield, University of South Australia

What’s the worst Christmas gift you could give someone? It would have to be a non-human primate or a big cat. Images of people cuddling cute baby chimpanzees, slow lorises or tigers can lead to false perceptions…
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A slump in well-being is common to all middle-aged great apes. Tom Holbrook

Do chimpanzees and orangutans really have midlife crises?

By Carla Litchfield, University of South Australia

Knowing that chimpanzees and orangutans have personalities, feel emotions and are “almost human” comes as no surprise to most people. However, linking the term “midlife crisis” to chimpanzees and orangutans…
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The human brain can write plays and build robots, but where did this intelligence come from? ores2k

Human intelligence: why are we the smartest primates?

By Andrew Lonie, University of Melbourne

Intelligence is our most complex characteristic. Some would even say it defines us, setting us apart from other primates. And now, a new study – published this week by Hennady P. Shulha and colleagues…
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Our ability to climb and swing is impressive, but not necessary for survival. spencer.lattimer

Out of our tree: did Homo mark the end of the swingers?

By Darren Curnoe

Just when did our human ancestors come down from the trees to become permanent ground-dwelling apes? Did the evolution of our upright posture and two-footed (bipedal) locomotion mark the end of a life…
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We share many behaviours and characteristics with our primate cousins and now we know our blood types are more closely linked as well. AAP Image/Taronga Zoo

As easy as A, B … humans and other primates are blood brothers

By Richard Burke, Monash University

A study published in PNAS this week has confirmed that human blood types were present in one of our ancient primate ancestors. The ABO blood groups Beloved by genetics teachers the world over, the ABO…
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It’s easy for uninhibited humans to elicit vocal responses from gibbons by imitating their song. Jerome Ludmann

Gibbon song may be music to the ears of human language students

By Nicholas Bannan, University of Western Australia

Gibbons and humans have more in common than might immediately seem apparent. Among many behavioural traits shared by our two species is singing. Not just that – the songs of gibbons have the potential…
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Vietnam’s growing economic prosperity, and demand for cute pets, has given its gibbons a bleak future. Clare Campbell

Southeast Asia’s small apes swing close to extinction

By Christian Roos, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Gibbons are among our closest living relatives. These small apes are beautiful singers and glorious swingers. But a new survey of their numbers has found an economic boom in Vietnam is eating up their…
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Chimps, like humans, can relive painful memories and grieve for loved ones. tgraham

Almost human: why a laboratory is no place for great apes

By Carla Litchfield, University of South Australia

Twenty years ago, Jared Diamond’s book “The Third Chimpanzee” highlighted a startling fact. If we adhere to the scientific rules for classifying species (taxonomy), humans should be classified as a third…

Research Briefs (5)

Why monkeys are fascinated with violence

University of Lincoln

Monkeys who observe fights tend to exploit the losers for grooming favours. This may provide an evolutionary context for…

First fingernails found

University of Florida

Fingernails and toenails first appeared on primates around 55 million years ago, allowing the development of several critical…

Participants (22)