Why are women the only primates with enlarged breasts?
A new study challenges the idea that female breasts originated through sexual selection, suggesting that other factors, such as the number of estrogen receptors may play a role
Why are marmosets and humans the only known primates that have names?
A recent study indicates that these monkeys also vocally label other individuals, shedding light on the origins of human language
Intestinal fluids for baby cockroaches and mothers devoured by their young: Childcare among insects
Bugs’ parental instincts run the gamut and in many cases, have evolved out of a necessity to defend against a variety of threats
From blind man’s bluff to primates hiding behind coconuts, when it comes to animals the act of play is training for the unexpected
Self-limiting games serve an important evolutionary function, according to different studies on primates, deer, whales and rats
Lemurs without teeth and one-armed macaques: How disabled primates survive in the wild
A review of scientific studies confirms that caring for family members with deformities and injuries is a widespread behavior in the animals most biologically similar to humans
Why dogs can’t dance
The fact that dancing is so uncommon in nature requires an explanation
The taboo of animal friendship, an evolutionary advantage not exclusive to humans
The scientific community has moved away from its historical reluctance to use the term friendship to refer to close relationships between animals
Human pathogens like pneumonia, tuberculosis and yellow fever are killing primates
Infection from contact with people is a major threat to the survival of these species
Ancient Egyptians worshipped animals, but mummies show they weren’t well cared for
A study on mummified baboons found diseases like rickets and deformities due to poor nutrition and lack of sunlight
The drunken monkey hypothesis: Why we like beer and wine so much
Various scientific theories have proposed that the taste for alcohol could have very ancient evolutionary roots
The serotine bat is the first mammal known to copulate without penetration
A study has found that males of this species have a penis seven times longer than females’ vaginas, which they use to reach the vulva and mate by contact
Sheep that recognize Emma Watson and dogs that prefer gestures to voices: How do animals understand humans?
After thousands of years coexisting with people, domesticated animals have learned how to recognize us, read our emotions and communicate with us
Personality tests guarantee successful conservation of wild animal populations
Programs to reintroduce locally extinct species are increasingly taking into account the behavior of the individuals being released
Pacts among primates: How and why do they make them?
To improve their position in the hierarchy, many ape species have to form coalitions to seize power
Barbie vs chimpanzees: why don’t boys play with dolls more?
Studying how other primates play can help us understand why male children prefer toys that have wheels
Is the little cleaner fish the smartest one on the reef?
The ‘Labroides dimidiatus’ takes care of its reputation by providing a personalized service to its clients, has a long-term memory, caresses predators, changes sex and recognizes itself in the mirror
Aging helps to see the bright side of life
Several studies indicate that older people show a tendency to reduce negative emotions, something that also occurs in chimpanzees
The simple game that can improve your dog’s mood
A study has found that dogs are in a more positive emotional state when they are involved with games that require the use of smell
Like human babies: Young chimpanzees also combine gestures and vocalizations to communicate
A recent study has shown that the development of communication in chimpanzees is similar to that of children
Some animals take care of others in need even if they are not related
Great apes, elephants and dolphins stand out for their altruistic, selfless behaviors
This how animals make collective decisions: Bees dance and the elephant matriarchs decide
Species that live in social groups have different ways of communicating preferences
Embryos that learn inside the egg
Some animal species learn to recognize predators and modify their behavior to survive before they hatch
Can monkeys be fooled by magic tricks?
A new study indicates that they can, but only when they share the magician’s motor skills
The long-running debate about whether animals understand fairness
A famous study once suggested that monkeys recognize inequity, but recent research shows otherwise
Anglerfish, the amazing sexual parasites of the abyss
The study of this unique fish, whose males are born to become mere reproductive appendages of the females, could help save lives
New study of grooming behavior shows chimpanzees have ‘influencers’ too
According to the research, the most dominant primates influence the social learning biases of the rest of the group, who will alter their behavior to gain greater acceptance
If parrots can talk, why can’t monkeys?
It’s commonly thought that most primates aren’t able to speak because of their vocal anatomy, but we now know it’s because of neural connections