Apes have sense of humour similar to people with ‘teasing’ current 13m years in the past
Apes have a way of humour similar to people, scientists have found.
Researchers discovered that 4 species of nice apes – orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos and gorillas – playfully tease one another.
US and German cognitive biologists and primatologists imagine the behaviour could be seen as a “cognitive-precursor” to joking.
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They say it’s possible evolutionary seeds for humour, mastered by comedians reminiscent of Ricky Gervais, had been sown tens of millions of years in the past.
Study first writer Dr Isabelle Laumer stated: “Great apes are excellent candidates for playful teasing, as they are closely related to us, engage in social play, show laughter and display relatively sophisticated understandings of others’ expectations.”
(Image: SWNS)
The first types of playful teasing in people emerge as early as eight months.
The researchers famous that Jane Goodall and different area primatologists had talked about related behaviours occurring in chimps a few years in the past, however the brand new research is the primary to systematically research playful teasing.
Dr Laumer stated the apes’ behaviour is much like these interactions and “suggests playful teasing may have been present in our last common ancestor 13million years ago”.
She added: “We hope that our study will inspire other researchers to study playful teasing in more species in order to better understand the evolution of this multi-faceted behaviour.
“We additionally hope that this research raises consciousness of the similarities we share with our closest relations and the significance of defending these endangered animals.”
