All articles tagged with #primates
Punch’s viral moment at a Japanese zoo spotlights broader animal-welfare issues, including captivity’s psychological toll on primates and the gap between online empathy and real protections; activists urge reforms and sustained advocacy beyond cute posts.
An illustrated tour of the world’s strongest primates—from gorillas and chimpanzees to gibbons, indris, muriquis and the extinct gigantomyth Gigantopithecus—explains how size, leverage, grip, and locomotion shape their power; humans are not built for raw power but excel at throwing, chimp muscles pack more power per kilogram than ours, and popular belief that a fight with a chimp would be winnable persists (22% of US men according to YouGov).
New science suggests that same-sex relations among primates may confer evolutionary benefits beyond reproduction by strengthening social bonds, forging alliances, and stabilizing group dynamics, illustrating that natural selection can favor behaviors that don’t fit the traditional survival script.
In nine elderly monkeys, daily 40 Hz sound for one week increased cerebrospinal fluid levels of β-amyloid by about 200%, suggesting the brain’s waste-clearance system was more active and the effect lasted five weeks. The results are preliminary, focusing on biomarkers rather than memory outcomes, and human trials are needed to determine real-world therapeutic potential.
A Nature Ecology & Evolution study synthesizes data showing same-sex sexual behavior in 59 nonhuman primates (including bonobos, chimpanzees and macaques) with repeated instances in 23 species, suggesting such behavior helps reduce social tension, build bonds, and manage competition under environmental stress—driven by genetics and context rather than reproduction, though not all species are equally studied.
Primates are a highly diverse mammal group with over 200 species, found across multiple continents, but the majority are threatened with extinction. The article covers primate classification, characteristics, and interesting facts about their evolution and conservation status.
The article discusses a paradigm shift in neuroscience towards neuroethology, which studies animals in naturalistic settings to better understand complex cognitive behaviors like social interactions and decision-making, moving beyond traditional lab-based methods to capture the brain's functioning in real-world contexts.
A study from the University at Buffalo reveals that human saliva has evolved significantly from primates, with gene duplications and changes influenced by diet and environment, highlighting saliva's potential in personalized medicine and oral health diagnostics.
A woman in Mississippi shot and killed an escaped monkey out of fear for her children's safety after a truck carrying rhesus macaques overturned, releasing the primates into the wild. The monkeys, originally from a biomedical research facility, were mostly killed in the crash, with authorities confirming they were not infectious but still considered dangerous due to their aggressive nature.
New research challenges the idea that grooves in ancient human teeth were caused by toothpicks, showing that similar grooves occur naturally in wild primates and that modern dental issues like abfraction lesions are likely uniquely human, influenced by modern diets and habits.
The article explores the evolution of the human brain, emphasizing the role of the neocortex and social complexity in developing advanced cognition, highlighting that brain growth was driven by survival challenges and social needs rather than innate intelligence.
A new study reveals that primates originated in cold, arid environments rather than tropical forests, challenging long-held beliefs and highlighting the importance of climate in primate evolution and conservation efforts.
Scientists have mapped the development of the ovarian reserve in primates, revealing critical stages and genes involved in egg cell formation, which could improve understanding of reproductive diseases like PCOS and fertility issues.
Scientists have identified two key genetic innovations that shaped the human pelvis and facilitated bipedal walking, a defining trait of humans. These changes involved cartilage formation and pelvic development delays, enabling upright walking and accommodating larger brains, which were crucial for human evolution and success.
Research shows that longer thumbs in primates are linked to larger brains, especially the neocortex, indicating that manual dexterity and brain evolution developed together, with implications for understanding human cognitive and motor development.