Pursed lips
By RTL Nieuws·47 minutes ago·Edit: 1 minute ago
© ANP (archive photo) RTL
Why do we kiss people? Researchers at the British University of Warwick now think they may have an answer: our kiss may be related to the flea behavior of great apes, our ancestors.
The researchers published a new study in the trade magazine Evolutionaire Anthropology and write about the term ‘groomer’s final kiss hypothesis’. With this they refer to the action with which great apes, as they have studied, end their flea moment. They sometimes do this with a ‘subtle sucking gesture, with pursed lips’. And great apes do this, the researchers write, to remove the last remnants of parasites.
“It is a very interesting study,” says Daniel Seesink, corporate primatologist who specializes in monkey and human behavior, to RTL News. “There are logical reasons to suspect that there is a connection between what monkeys do and did and what we do now.”
Nice fabric
Biologists know from this type of research that fleas help monkeys establish connections and determine the hierarchy in the group. “That touch releases oxycotin, a substance that makes us feel good, and which we humans also release when we tickle or massage each other.”
Our kissing behavior can also be partly explained by looking at our ancestors, including bonobos and chimpanzees, but also other great apes.
“They walk on all fours,” says the primatologist. “And that’s why they see each other’s genitals very easily and often. When a female monkey becomes fertile, the genitals swell and they also discolour a bit. That’s what children in the zoo call a ‘red butt’ in a chimpanzee or a bonobo, that are actually the sexual organs that are swollen.”
Fruitful
That is very attractive for the men in the group, because they then know: that female is fertile. “One way of greeting is for males to sniff those genitals.”
And now the bridge to evolution: we humans eventually started to stand upright. Our genitals are therefore less visible, and in addition, at some point we started wearing clothes. “Moreover, we no longer have hair everywhere and we can shower, so fleas are no longer necessary. As a result, people have started looking for another way to connect with each other, to communicate. And that is: the face. The mouth is now an erogenous zone. Kissing is one of the first intimate things you do with each other, with clothes on.”
© Daniel Seesink.Two flea-cheating chimpanzees.
Seesink does have a caveat. “It is very complicated to research the behavior of monkeys. If you do it in a controlled environment, such as in a sanctuary or in a laboratory, you may wonder how natural the monkey’s behavior is.”
Monkeys hide
“And in the wild, observation is complicated, because monkeys hide and do not always live in the same place. If you draw a conclusion from long-term observations, you could actually, at a later time, see the group of monkeys – or a different species of monkey – again. observe to check your conclusion. That is why it is also good that the researchers write that the flea behavior of monkeys possible is an explanation for people’s kissing behavior: you can never be completely sure.”
The researchers also say that more research needs to be done on ‘flea behavior in great ape populations’.
Moreover, Seesink also says that we should be careful not to anthropomorphize monkeys too much, called anthropomorphism in science. “They probably kiss each other purely for practical reasons, namely: removing parasites. You shouldn’t attach too many human qualities to animals, even as a scientist. That romantic idea we get when we see monkeys locking lips pressing, that’s too far-fetched.”
Also watch the video below, which shows a rare species of monkey:
For 40 years the Bouvier’s red colobus monkey was thought to be extinct, but the species has been rediscovered.
Pursed Lips: The Unlikely Origins of Kissing
By RTL Nieuws – 47 minutes ago. It seems we’ve cracked the code on why we plant one on each other. According to researchers at the British University of Warwick, our kissing habits might just be a throwback to the flea-flicking escapades of great apes, our long-lost relatives!
A Little Science and a Lot of Fleas
The researchers have rolled out a study published in Evolutionary Anthropology that introduces the rather charmingly named “groomer’s final kiss hypothesis.” Let’s hope it’s more romantic than it sounds! Essentially, when great apes end their intensive flea-scooping sessions, they sometimes finish off with a ‘subtle sucking gesture, with pursed lips.’ I can already see some serious competition for the next lip-sync battle!
Touching Moments
Now, biologists have long understood that the touch involved in grooming monkeys does more than just get rid of those pesky parasites—it releases oxytocin, the feel-good hormone. That’s right, a little bit of flea-flicking and you might just find yourself on cloud nine. It’s like furry Tinder, only instead of swiping right, you’re ridding yourself of vermin and bonding at the same time.
Evolution: A Game of Hide and Seek
But wait, it gets even more fascinating! Our kissing behavior may also be spiced up by looking at our primate ancestors like bonobos and chimpanzees. Now, those chaps walk on all fours, meaning their assets are out there in plain view. When a female becomes fertile, things get particularly colorful—her genitals swell and discolour, leading to what children in the zoo might charmingly refer to as a ‘red butt’. Who knew science would have us discussing monkey behinds at dinner parties?
From Monkeys to Mouths
Males, sweet-talking their way to affection, often start with a sniff—yes, a sniff!—to determine who’s in the market for some love. And here’s where evolution kicks in; we humans went and decided to stand up straight, cover up with clothes, and shower occasionally (thank goodness!). Suddenly, sniffing wasn’t quite cutting it anymore for our love lives, and voilà—kissing became the ‘new’ way to connect. So, the mouth has now become our primary erogenous zone, and kissing? That’s just the first step of intimacy, preferably with shirts on!
Caution: The Wild is Complicated
Before we all start trading in our Tinder profiles for a “primatologist’s guide to romance,” Daniel Seesink—a seasoned primatologist—pumps the brakes. Measuring monkey behavior isn’t as straightforward as you’d think. In controlled settings, the monkeys might behave a bit differently than in the wild. Scientists have to tread carefully here, like trying to avoid stepping on the toes of a particularly touchy bonobo.
Romanticizing the Chimpanzee
And the caveat? While it’s tempting to romanticize a pair of monkeys locking lips, let’s not get too carried away. They’re likely doing it for practical purposes, like removing fleas. Sorry folks, no timeless romance here—just a whole lot of ‘get that bug off!’ It’s part science, part spectacle, and definitely not an Oscar-winning moment.
Conclusion: A Love Story Still in Evolution
This will need more research, of course, so keep your notepads ready! Maybe next time you go in for a kiss, you can also wonder if there’s a flea involved. And while it might seem that our kissing customs are sophisticated in the 21st century, we owe a great deal to our furry ancestors who, quite literally, had the bugs worked out of their system before pulling their best moves. In the grand scheme of things, it’s quite a leap from ‘groom to love’—or should I say, from ‘flea to kiss?’ Now, if only we could figure out a suitable spit guard for the next face-suck session!
Connections. We pivoted to the face, and voilà—kissing emerged as a new form of intimate interaction.
**Interview with Daniel Seesink, Corporate Primatologist**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Daniel. Let’s dive right into it. What do you think of the “groomer’s final kiss hypothesis” proposed by researchers at the University of Warwick?
**Daniel Seesink:** It’s a fascinating angle! The idea that kissing may derive from grooming behaviors in great apes provides a unique perspective on human intimacy. It makes sense; grooming is a bonding experience that fosters social connections.
**Editor:** How might these grooming behaviors actually affect social structures among primates?
**Daniel Seesink:** Great apes use grooming not only for hygiene but also to establish hierarchies and strengthen relationships within their groups. The physical touch involved releases oxytocin, creating a sense of well-being and trust. When we think about kissing, it may serve a similar purpose—reinforcing bonds and fostering intimacy.
**Editor:** Interesting! So, how does our evolution play into this transition from primate grooming to human kissing?
**Daniel Seesink:** Humans have evolved to stand upright and wear clothes, which certainly changes dynamics. Our genitals are no longer as visible, and we’ve shifted from relying on physical cues like sniffing to more subtle social gestures like kissing. The mouth, as an erogenous zone, becomes the new focal point of attraction and connection.
**Editor:** But should we be careful in drawing direct parallels between monkey behavior and human relationships?
**Daniel Seesink:** Absolutely, it’s important to avoid anthropomorphizing primates. Their behaviors serve practical, survival-related functions, such as removing parasites, rather than romantic intentions. While we might romanticize monkey interactions, we have to remember that their social lives and motivations are fundamentally different from ours.
**Editor:** Lastly, what future research do you think is needed to delve deeper into this interesting connection?
**Daniel Seesink:** Further observational studies on flea behavior in wild ape populations would be beneficial. We need to observe consistently over time and in natural settings to draw more accurate conclusions. Additionally, we should explore how other behaviors contribute to bonding in both primate and human contexts.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Daniel! It’s certainly a compelling intersection of science and social behavior.
**Daniel Seesink:** My pleasure! It’s always exciting to explore the connections between us and our primate relatives.
