apes

Nature: Baby ravens pick up in four months skills that great apes take a lifetime to learn

by

Not so bird-brained after all: Baby ravens pick up in four months skills that great apes take a lifetime to learn Researchers from Germany put young ravens through various cognitive tests They then compared the results with those of chimpanzees and orangutans Ravens appeared to acquire all their cognitive prowess in their first four months They … Read more

Dolphins can pick up new hunting skills from non-family members just like great apes

by

Dolphins can pick up new hunting skills from non-family members just like great apes — and don’t always need mum to teach them the ropes, a study has found. Biologists watched dolphins off of the Australian coast pick up a hunting technique — involving shaking hidden prey out of discarded shells — by mimicking each other. … Read more

Apes’ inner ears could help scientists reconstruct the early branches of the human family tree

by

Apes’ inner ears could help scientists reconstruct the early branches of the human family tree and identify the last common ancestor from which we evolved.  Used in both balance and hearing, the bony cavity that houses the inner ear is often preserved in the fossil record. Its changing shape across species has helped experts track … Read more

Male apes whose moms are present during their adolescence have higher odds of survival, study finds

by

A new study of wild chimpanzees shows that even our closest animal relatives are mama’s boys. Researchers found that males whose mothers were in their lives from the ages of 10 and 15 had a higher survival rate compared to those who lost their moms before they finished puberty. Data shows that females leave their … Read more