Altruism

Introduction

Sharing is a behavior that is often thought to be unique to humans. However, recent research has shown that bonobos, our closest primate relatives, also exhibit food sharing behavior. This behavior is particularly interesting because it suggests that altruism, the act of helping others without any direct benefit to oneself, may not be a uniquely human trait.

Bonobos and Food Sharing

Bonobos are a species of great ape that is native to the Congo Basin in Central Africa. They are known for their peaceful and cooperative nature, and they have been observed to share food with each other on numerous occasions.

In one study, researchers placed one bonobo in a room with some food. The bonobo could then choose to eat all of the food itself or let in another bonobo from an adjacent room and share the food. More often than not, the bonobos chose to share their food.

Why Do Bonobos Share Food?

There are several possible reasons why bonobos share food. One possibility is that they are doing so in order to receive favors in the future from the recipients. This is known as reciprocal altruism.

Another possibility is that bonobos share food due to a more altruistic motivation. This means that they are helping others without any expectation of回报. This type of behavior is often seen in humans, and it is thought to be one of the foundations of human cooperation.

The Role of Altruism in Bonobo Food Sharing

The researchers who conducted the study on bonobo food sharing believe that altruism plays a significant role in this behavior. They found that bonobos were more likely to share food with individuals that they had previously shared food with, and they were also more likely to share food with individuals that they were not related to. This suggests that bonobos are not simply sharing food in order to get something in return, but rather that they are genuinely motivated to help others.

Animal Behavior: Wild Things, Life as We Know It

Monkey Talk: Monkeys Combine Words to Communicate

Scientists from the University of St. Andrews have made a groundbreaking discovery: monkeys can string words together to convey more complex messages. In a study of tree-dwelling putty-nosed monkeys in Nigeria, researchers found that the monkeys combined “pyow,” a warning about a threat below, and “hack,” a warning about a threat above, to create a new, urgent message: flee now! This finding suggests that monkeys may have a rudimentary form of language, if their communication is learned rather than innate.

Altruism in Side-Blotched Lizards

Altruism, or selfless behavior, is a puzzling trait in animals, as it often results in a loss of mating opportunities. A new study by researchers at the University of California at Santa Cruz sheds light on how one species, the side-blotched lizard, overcomes this challenge.

The study found that male side-blotched lizards recognize altruism in others and come to the defense of only those that share this trait. This behavior helps altruistic lizards pass along their genes, as they are more likely to survive and reproduce if they have allies who are willing to defend them.

Sea Anemone Stings: Nature’s Fastest Cellular Process

Sea anemones are fascinating creatures with powerful stingers that can paralyze prey in an instant. Researchers in Germany have discovered that the stingers accelerate from zero to 80 miles per hour in just 700 nanoseconds, a million times faster than a race car. This incredible speed makes the sea anemone’s stinger one of the fastest cellular processes in nature.

Aquatic Crabs Adapt to Land

Crabs are typically associated with aquatic environments, but some species have adapted to life on land. One such species is the blackback crab. After molting, aquatic crabs fill up with water to stabilize their new, flimsy shells. However, blackback crabs have evolved a unique adaptation that allows them to fill their shells with air instead. This adaptation may have been instrumental in their transition to a terrestrial lifestyle.

Thyrohyrax: Ancient Predecessor of Hyraxes

Thyrohyrax was an ancient mammal that lived from the Middle East to southern Africa about 30 million years ago. It was originally believed to be a female hyrax due to its long, banana-curved lower jaws. However, researchers at the Duke Lemur Center have reassigned its sexual identity after examining the fossilized dental record.

The researchers concluded that the long lower jaws belonged to male Thyrohyrax, which had larger lower incisors than females. The males’ unusual jawbone also included a hollow chamber on each side, which may have been used to produce sound during courtship. If so, Thyrohyrax would have been the only known mammal with such a specialized vocal apparatus.

Despite its unique adaptations, Thyrohyrax was not a particularly successful species and died out about 30 million years ago. Its descendants do not possess the same jaw or chamber, suggesting that these traits were not advantageous for survival.

Bonobos: Food Sharing and Altruism | Evidence of Altruism in Our Closest Primate Relatives

Bonobos: Food Sharing and Altruism