Just Like Humans, Apes Use 'Hello' and 'Goodbye' Signals When They Meet Other Apes

When we communicate with one another, we prefer to adhere to unspoken standards. To begin a conversation, we may greet each other with 'hello,' but when someone says something like 'it was nice to see you,' we know the interaction has ended.

Until recently, we assumed we were the only ones who engaged in this social etiquette. Some of our closest primate cousins turn to outdo as well.

How Apes Interact with each other

(Photo : Photo by Luca Ambrosi on Unsplash)

According to a new study, researchers discovered that apes use signals to initiate interactions.

The researchers looked at 1,242 interactions between groups of bonobos and chimps in zoos and discovered that the apes would regularly stare and use signals to begin and stop exchanges, much like how humans do it.

These findings, according to the authors, lead to a better understanding of the genesis and evolution of 'joint commitment' as a process in humans and great apes in general. Joint commitment refers to processes in which we share intents and work together to achieve common objectives. This may be as easy as exchanging hello to start a conversation.

"Behavior doesn't fossilize. You can't dig up bones to look at how behavior has evolved. But you can study our closest living relatives' great apes like chimpanzees and bonobos," says Raphaela Heesen, a Durham University social cognition researcher and study co-author.

Bonobos communicated entrance signals and a mutual look 90 percent of the time before playing, but chimps did just 69 percent of the time.

Exiting signals were even more prevalent, with chimp interactions having an exit message in 92 percent for bonobos and 86 percent of chimp interactions. Before and after grooming or play.

The different forms of signaling included movements like caressing each other, holding hands, butting heads, or looking at one other.

The study, which was published in the journal iScience, also looked at characteristics including how socially close the apes were to one other and who had greater control over whom. Surprisingly, the closer bonobos were to one another, the shorter their entry and departure phases were, assuming they ever existed. This pattern, according to scientists, is comparable to how humans communicate with one another.

"When you're interacting with a good friend, you're less likely to put in a lot of effort in communicating politely," According to Raphaela Heesen.

according to the authors of the journal, the apes reflect on how people communicate with one another.

Also read: Elder Apes Murder Albino Chimp Baby Just Days After Rare Sighting

How are Apes (Primates) related to us humans?

Monkeys, lemurs, and apes are our cousins, and we all descended from the same progenitor 60 million years ago. Primates have genetic similarities since they are related. Human DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is 96 percent identical to that of our most distant primate cousins and 99 percent identical to that of our closest relatives' chimpanzees, and bonobos.

Humans and apes have the same bones, muscles, nervous system, fingers, and toes. Their vision, smell, hearing, and touch are all extremely like ours. Unlike most other animals, they can identify themselves in a mirror. They also give each other kisses, hugs, pats on the backs, clasp hands, and shake fists.

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