Gratitude is one of the emotions/concepts that is typically only ascribed only to humans. However, decades of observations of great ape behavior at Gombe (and in other regions of the chimpanzee range) have shown us that it's very likely that chimpanzees have the ability to feel and display gratitude.
Altruistic behaviour in primates relies on reciprocity. "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" is not a phrase that scientists have always associated with non-human primates in the past.
Those gestures included touching each other, holding hand and even butting heads. Bonobos exchanged “hello” signals prior to playing 90% of the time and chimps 69% of the time, according to the study, and goodbyes were even more common.
Some developed language. No animals have all the aspects of human language, but several species have some. Diana monkeys, seen in Clever Monkeys, are some of the most clever monkeys when it comes to language.
Many linguists still believe that apes have no real grasp of human language, but are merely imitating their human companions. They insist that while apes may understand individual symbols or words, they do not understand the concepts of syntax, or how words are put together to form a complete idea.
Empathy: Chimpanzees are capable of feeling a wide range of emotions, including joy, happiness and empathy. They look out for one another and often provide help when needed. For example, both male and female adults have been observed adopting orphaned chimps in the wild and at the Tchimpounga sanctuary.
For decades, monkeys' and apes' vocal anatomy has been blamed for their inability to reproduce human speech sounds, but a new study suggests macaque monkeys—and by extension, other primates—could indeed talk if they only possessed the brain wiring to do so.
Their rich and complex emotional repertoire matches the complexity of their intellect. Chimpanzees use feelings as yet another way to navigate through their lives and relationships. Their reactions range from anger to exhilaration, from humor to despondence – and every other emotion we know.
The human brain is about three times as big as the brain of our closest living relative, the chimpanzee. Moreover, a part of the brain called the cerebral cortex – which plays a key role in memory, attention, awareness and thought – contains twice as many cells in humans as the same region in chimpanzees.
Macaques
Researchers believe that macaques have sex for pleasure because their sexual behavior is similar to humans. For example, macaques experience elevated heart rates and vaginal spasms when mating.
Myth: Chimps can smile like humans do.
Chimps make this expression when they are afraid, unsure, stressed, or wanting to appear submissive to a more dominant troop member. The closest expression chimps have to a smile is a play face.
Some scientists suspect spontaneous smiles in these monkeys echo the development of our own expressions. Scientists from the Primate Research Institute at Kyoto University in Japan have observed these spontaneous smiles in Japanese macaques for the first time, according to a new study published in the journal Primates.
In the case of crested black macaques (Macaca nigra), which live in Indonesia, hugging comes with an added flourish: These monkeys request hugs by audibly smacking their lips — an invitation that's not reserved for family but extended generously to other members of the troop.
Grooming, for example, shows affection and respect. And when it's time for a fight, a monkey with whom you've built a friendship is much more likely to fight at your side — or clean your wounds afterward!
Abstract. Nonhuman primates posses a highly developed capacity for face recognition, which resembles the human capacity both cognitively and neurologically.
Turns out, chimpanzees use hugs and kisses the same way. For most folks, a nice hug and some sympathy can help a bit after we get pushed around. Turns out, chimpanzees use hugs and kisses the same way.
1: Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees can learn sign language to communicate with humans. Topping our list of smartest animals is another great ape, the chimpanzee. The impressive intellectual abilities of this animal have long fascinated humans.
Primates naturally want to be the one in charge in a group, or at least be second in command. This means that generally a primate will bond with one person who they think is in charge, and then perceive everyone else as the enemy.
Monkeys as smart as TODDLERS: Scientists say apes can understand abstract properties. Monkeys are as smart as a three-year-old child when it comes to solving puzzles. Capuchins, chimpanzees and bonobos were able to pull a piece of string after watching how it released a food reward.
It is interesting to note that some adult wild-born macaques spontaneously exhibit depressive behaviors even though they have not been subjected to experimentally induced early-life stress (Camus et al. 2014; Shively et al. 1997; Willard and Shively 2012).
Baby animals that are separated from their mothers sound a cry, but humans are the only ones who shed tears. (Stone/ Getty) Pet owners often claim their dogs cry. Darwin thought monkeys and elephants wept. But modern scientists believe the only animal to really break down in tears is us.
The short answer is no. An individual of one species cannot, during its lifetime, turn into another species.
Monkey babies can identify related family members in pictures. Studies have shown that even if a young monkey doesn't know who his father is, they can still identify other monkeys related to them just by looking at pictures. They recognize familiar facial features instinctively to avoid inbreeding.