Source: Fortune.com
Summary
A new study has documented 427 cases of primates interacting with other species, revealing a widespread pattern of behavior that was previously underestimated. The interactions, which include play, grooming, and even adoption, involve 88 primate species and 127 other animal species. The study suggests that primates may possess a broader capacity for social flexibility, curiosity, and tolerance towards other species than previously appreciated. The findings have implications for conservation, public health, and animal welfare.
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The strategy enters a familiar phase.
Researchers have long known that different animal species associate with one another, but this study focuses on social interactions. The cases reviewed involved 88 primate species and their interactions with 127 other animal species, including mammals, birds, lizards, toads, and insects. The most common behavior was play and grooming, but the study also found reports of primates carrying, huddling, and sharing food with members of another species.
Young primates were more likely to play with members of another species, while adult females were more often involved in grooming. The study found consistent patterns in who interacted, mirroring well-established age and sex differences in many primate societies.
The findings have important implications for conservation and public health, as forests become increasingly fragmented and wildlife is forced into closer contact with people, livestock, and domestic animals. Understanding when and why different species tolerate one another can help improve animal welfare and inform decisions about housing compatible species together in zoos.
Perhaps most interesting of all, the findings suggest that some of the ingredients underlying these relationships may have deep evolutionary roots.
Author: Evan Null
