Articles tagged with Monkeys
Researchers have discovered ancient monkey teeth in Peru that provide evidence of a now-extinct monkey species crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Africa. The site is dated to around 34 million years ago, and the monkeys are believed to have traveled on floating vegetation rafts.
Research shows that people approach and interact with dominant monkeys despite perceiving them as more threatening. In reality, dominant primates often get closer to humans due to increased human interaction.
Research on red titi monkeys reveals that female pair bond maintenance is driven by relationship management, while males provide useful services like offspring care and territory defense. The study supports the 'male-services hypothesis' suggesting females prioritize proximity to maintain relationships.
A new study has found that deforestation is changing the way howler monkeys communicate in their natural habitats. The research, led by Laura Bolt at the University of Waterloo, reveals that howling duration and intensity vary depending on proximity to forest edges impacted by human activity.
A new study on a well-preserved femur fossil suggests that apes, humans, and Old World monkeys developed distinct hip joint morphologies, likely adapted to their respective environments. The findings imply that navigating the environment played a key role in driving the divergence of these primates.
Researchers found that marmoset monkeys' vocal development changes are driven by local bodily solutions rather than brain control. This discovery suggests that the body can make local problems-solving decisions without relying on the brain, saving energy and simplifying motor control.
A study by Georgia State University researchers found that monkeys were more willing to explore efficient options when solving problems, whereas humans tend to stick with familiar strategies. This cognitive bias can lead to inefficient decisions and missed opportunities.
Fruit-eating monkeys show a preference for low ethanol concentrations in fermenting fruit, suggesting that sweetness and carbohydrate content are more important than calorie content. The findings do not support the idea of human alcoholism originating from primates' preference for alcohol-containing overripe fruit.
A new study by MIT linguist Shigeru Miyagawa and Esther Clarke reveals that Old World monkeys can combine two items in language sequences, but this ability stops at two. Unlike humans, who can recombine terms to create an infinite variety of sequences, the monkeys' language lacks the capacity for greater complexity.
A team of scientists has discovered the world's smallest fossil monkey, weighing less than half a pound and measuring just double the size of a pin. The 18-million-year-old Parvimico materdei helps fill a gap in the record of monkey evolution.
Researchers found high densities of flies in primate social groups, recapturing marked flies up to two weeks later. Flies carried anthrax and Treponema pallidum pertenue bacteria, which cause severe lesions in mangabeys.
A new study found that genetic variation in the serotonin transporter gene affects brain mechanisms that influence anxiety and depression. The research suggests that personalized therapies could be developed based on an individual's genetic profile.
Researchers have retraced the pathogen's route as it spread from Pará State in North Brazil. Yellow fever virus was detected in dead monkeys and mosquitoes, revealing a 40-year-old strain behind current epidemic.
The study used CT scans and 3D imaging to analyze cranium fossils of two extinct species, identifying adaptations and relationships with extant platyrrhine species. The results showed that C. bambuiorum is closely related to Ateles, Brachyteles, and Lagothrix, contradicting its initial classification.
A new study finds that New World monkeys are highly vulnerable to climate change, with many species facing substantial temperature increases and habitat changes over the next 30 years. The research suggests urgent action is needed to mitigate the effects of climate change on primate populations.
Researchers found that West African green monkeys quickly learned the meaning of unfamiliar drone sounds and mimicked an East African vervet monkey's call to warn against eagles. This suggests that alarm call structure is deeply rooted in evolutionary history.
A new monkey species, Alophia, has been discovered in Africa at 22 million years old, bridging the 6-million-year gap in primate evolution. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of Old World monkeys and their dietary changes over time.
Researchers found that spider monkeys who were isolated produced whinnies with a lower fundamental frequency, which traveled longer distances and improved re-establishing contact with their group. Listeners responded more quickly to these lower-frequency calls.
The discovery of fossilized monkey teeth in West Turkana, Kenya, fills a 6-million-year gap in Old World monkey evolution. The newly found teeth, belonging to the species Alophia metios, have primitive dentition, lacking 'lophs,' and are believed to be adapted to a diet of hard fruits, seeds, and nuts.
A new study of macaque monkeys found that shorter birth intervals are associated with higher mortality rates in offspring. The research suggests a biological link between birth intervals and offspring mortality, consistent with previous studies on human birth intervals.
Researchers found widespread allomaternal nursing behavior in golden snub-nosed monkeys, where most infants were nursed by one or two additional adult females. This behavior enhanced infant survivorship and supported kin selection and reciprocity hypotheses, expanding our understanding of allomaternal nursing in primates.
A University of Michigan study reveals that hybridization between black and mantled howler monkeys is playing a direct role in completing the speciation process by enhancing genetic differences. The researchers found evidence for multiple forms of natural selection, including reinforcement, driving species differences.
Researchers found that marmosets prefer melodies with consistent dependencies, mirroring human language structures. This discovery implies that primates already possessed this cognitive ability, shared with humans, around 30 million years ago.
Analysis of ancient DNA from an extinct Jamaican monkey named Xenothrix has revealed its surprising connection to South America's titi monkeys. The study shows that island colonization can dramatically impact animal evolution, leading to unique characteristics like slow movement and few teeth.
Ancient DNA analysis reveals extinct Jamaican monkey Xenothrix, which diverged from Cheracebus monkeys around 11 million years ago. The study suggests that adaptation can shape species morphology in novel environments, supporting primate colonization of the Caribbean islands.
Researchers have found that wild monkeys in the Americas are transmitting the Zika virus to humans via mosquitoes, changing our understanding of the ecology and transmission of Zika virus in the region. This natural transmission cycle involving local mosquitoes and wild primates makes complete eradication of the virus highly unlikely.
Researchers found that suppressing a specific area of the prefrontal cortex led to a significant decrease in risk-taking behavior in monkeys. The study suggests that this brain region is critical for controlling attraction to big uncertain rewards.
A genetic study reveals that Asian colobine monkeys have a poor sense of taste, particularly in regards to natural sugars. This is attributed to their diet consisting mainly of leaves, which are easily digestible and fibre-rich, rather than energy-rich fruits containing simple sugars.
Researchers mapped 329 primate electrocutions in Diani, Kenya, highlighting hotspot areas and patterns of association. The study aims to inform conservation strategies by providing a framework for systematic spatial prioritization of power lines to reduce primate electrocution risks.
Researchers tracked marmosets with Fitbit-like devices to study sleep disturbances, circadian rhythm changes, and cognitive impairment, mirroring Parkinson's non-motor symptoms. The findings provide a valuable animal model for understanding the neuro-circuitry responsible for these complex aspects of the disease.
Researchers have developed a bifunctional compound that both relieves pain and suppresses opioid dependency in primates, providing 100-fold stronger pain relief than morphine. The compound lacks rewarding characteristics and motor impairment, indicating a safer alternative to traditional opioids.
A comparative study found that rats use a different approach to solve visual discrimination tasks compared to shrews, monkeys, and humans. Researchers suggest that this difference may indicate distinct brain function in rats.
Research suggests that Zika virus can cause more miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women without showing symptoms. A recent study found 26% of infected monkeys experienced fetal loss despite few signs of infection.
New fossil evidence suggests that ancient primates, including Teilhardina brandti, had specialized grooming claws as well as nails. This finding overturns the prevailing assumption that the earliest primates had nails on all their digits and provides crucial insights into their daily behavior and evolutionary story.
Researchers found that a protein called NS2B3 cleaves the STING protein in humans, but not in mice, allowing ZIKV to replicate. This study provides a molecular basis for the virus's restricted host tropism and may aid in developing novel drug and vaccine candidates.
Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, have been enjoying regular baths in the hot spring at Jigokudani in Japan for decades. A recent study found that female snow monkeys use the hot spring more often in winter than in spring to lower stress levels.
Researchers found that monkeys' brains synchronize during social tasks, predicting location, velocity, and proximity to each other. The study also shows that social rank influences brain synchronization, which may have implications for conditions like autism.
Research on marmoset monkeys found that both internal states, such as arousal levels, and external factors, like timing of another monkey's vocalizations, impact vocalization changes. The study suggests a complex relationship between vocal production in nonhuman primates, with potential implications for understanding human communication.
A study published in the journal Primates shows that while plants growing near the edges of cleared regions are negatively impacted by human activity, monkeys sharing the same habitat do not fare as poorly. The researchers found less diversity of tree species at the forest edge compared to the interior, and noted that these trees were ...
The study found over 5,800 individual Zanzibar red colobus monkeys, three times more than previously thought, with a higher proportion living in protected areas. However, the population is declining due to low survivorship of young animals, deforestation, and hunting.
Researchers infect rhesus macaques with Zika virus through mosquito bites, revealing similar infection patterns to human cases. The study helps understand Zika transmission routes and may aid in prevention and severity of disease.
A study published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization found that humans can find a mutually beneficial solution in a competitive game by alternating between playing 'Fight' and 'Yield'. This unique ability sets humans apart from monkeys and other primates, who struggle to achieve the same cooperative outcome.
A study published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution found that jealousy leads to increased brain activity in areas associated with social pain and pair bonding in male coppery titi monkeys. The researchers also observed heightened activity in the lateral septum, a region involved in forming pair bonds in primates.
Researchers studied pair-bonded titi monkeys to understand jealousy and its consequences. The study found that male monkeys exhibited increased testosterone and cortisol levels when watching their partners with a stranger, and brain scans revealed heightened activity in areas associated with social exclusion and aggression.
Researchers confirm zoonotic transmission of Plasmodium simium in 28 human cases in the Atlantic Forest region of southern Brazil, where malaria was previously thought to be eliminated. The study highlights the need for further investigation into the natural history and biology of the parasites in their non-human primate hosts.
A UCLA study reveals that older, sociable capuchins invent more new social behaviors, while younger monkeys innovate in different categories. The research found 187 innovations, with most occurring in the investigative category.
Researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences create SHANK3-deficient non-human primate model, showing significant reduction in postsynaptic proteins and mature neurons. The study highlights the critical role of SHANK3 in early brain development and its potential for advancing autism research.
A study shows that chimpanzees can learn the rock-paper-scissors game, but takes longer to grasp the third pair. The research team also taught the game to preschool children, who learned it quickly and accurately, especially as they aged.
A new study suggests that human settlement of Jamaica may have led to the extinction of the Xenothrix mcgregori monkey species. The research uses radiocarbon dating to estimate that the monkey died between 505 and 573 A.D., overlapping with non-European human arrival on the island.
Research by University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists reveals that Zika virus transmission is unlikely through casual contact like kissing or sharing utensils. The study found that the virus can survive in bodily fluids for extended periods but remains inactive in saliva, which may play a role in preventing infection.
A study found that training enhances attention in the brain, leading to improved performance in tasks like reading x-rays and excelling in sports. However, after extended training, this initial gain in attention disappears, even though behavioral performance remains improved.
Capuchin monkeys adopt most efficient technique for opening fruit quickly through social learning and individual experience. Older monkeys rely on their own experience, while younger ones pay more attention to watching others.
Scientists have discovered a simple code for facial identity in the primate brain, allowing them to reconstruct faces from neural activity. By analyzing electrical signals from specific nerve cells, researchers can create a multidimensional face space and decode additional faces.
A neural explanation for 'monkey see, monkey do' involves a specialized circuit in primates analyzing social interactions like grooming and fighting. The study found that brain networks associated with visual features are highly active when observing these interactions, similar to the human brain's social interaction systems.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have identified a brain network exclusively dedicated to analyzing social interactions in rhesus macaques. This network may represent an evolutionary precursor to the neural circuitry that supports theory of mind in humans, potentially blurring the lines between human and primate cognition.
Scientists have demonstrated the effectiveness of gene editing in rhesus monkey embryos, paving the way for new therapies and treatments. The breakthrough opens up possibilities for human disease research, including neurological and reproductive conditions.
Researchers studied mandrill behavior in Gabon's rainforests, finding they avoid sick individuals through olfactory cues. This 'behavioral immune system' minimizes parasite transmission, influencing social behavior and co-evolution.
Researchers analyzed conflicts within a captive community of macaque monkeys to understand how agitated individuals can trigger large-scale brawls. They found that a small number of agitated monkeys can destabilize the system, but individual differences among group members may allow for more controlled distance from criticality.
A non-pharmaceutical agent called Vasalgel forms a hydrogel barrier to prevent sperm movement, providing long-term and reliable contraception. The study's findings suggest the method is safe and effective, with no conceptions occurring in test monkeys.
A comprehensive report warns of dire prospects for many nonhuman primates due to habitat loss, hunting, and poaching. Conservation efforts are crucial to address local poverty and population growth, as well as humanity's agricultural footprint and mining activities.