Humans Aren’t the Only Primates Who “Share for Sharing’s Sake”

New research calls into question what we know about the evolution of animal social cognition.

By Sofia Quaglia
Nov 24, 2022 4:00 PMNov 28, 2022 2:13 PM
Chimpanzees
A family of chimpanzees from the Kibale Forest in Uganda. (Credit: Kirill Trubitsyn/Shutterstock)

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

Fiona plucks a leaf from a branch and brings it close to her mouth. Thinking better of it, she then shows the leaf to her mother, who gazes at it for a short moment before turning away. It’s nothing out of the ordinary for your everyday nature aficionados — except that Fiona and her mother, Sutherland, are two adult chimpanzees residing in the Kibale Forest of Uganda.

Researchers who observed the interaction have dubbed it the first instance of a non-human primate sharing something with a peer simply for the sake of sharing. Their findings, published in PNAS this month, dispel the myth that only humans are capable of grabbing another’s attention solely to share a discovery or remark on an experience.

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2023 Kalmbach Media Co.