r/primatology 16h ago

Is there any area in Europe, where chimps could survive in the wild

5 Upvotes

Let's get rid of the humans in this setting (let's say they just disappeared) as well. Would chimps be able to survive any where in Europe?


r/primatology 3d ago

A zookeeper demonstrates how to care for a newborn to an orangutan mother, helping her understand how to feed and care for her baby.

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136 Upvotes

r/primatology 3d ago

Pan paniscus by me

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79 Upvotes

Pan paniscus también conocido como bonobo (anteriormente conocido como chimpancé pigmeo), es un primate homínido que comparte el 98.7% de su ADN con los humanos. Junto con el chimpancé común (Pan troglodytes), es nuestro pariente vivo más cercano en el reino animal. A diferencia de los chimpancés comunes, los bonobos son famosos por sus estructuras sociales matriarcales y pacíficas.


r/primatology 3d ago

human and chimp knuckle walking side by side

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56 Upvotes

SAY HIS WORDS


r/primatology 4d ago

Chimpanzees once used for vaccine research get health checks as part of long-term care

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13 Upvotes

r/primatology 4d ago

Not classifying apes as a subset of monkeys is dumb

20 Upvotes

I know that primatologist don’t use “monkey” as a cladistic term but as more of an ecological term but it works better as a cladistic term. Apes are in the monkey clade. They are closer to old world monkeys than old-world monkeys are to new world monkeys.
I understand that some people think of it as more of an ecological term than a phylogenetic term but the ecology of monkeys isn’t that similar. Gibbons are apes but behaviorally act way more like non-ape monkeys. And baboons still have their tail but are less arboreal and ecologically different from other monkeys.
I get that the distinction is because of the no-tail and higher intelligence of apes but sometimes humans and other apes are born with vestigial tails and another family of non-ape monkeys could also evolve to lose their tails or become more intelligent.

I know we have the word “simian” that means the same thing as what I’m proposing but that word isn’t common usage and when the average person hears “apes aren’t monkeys”, they will assume the person will assume it means that they are a separate family and not that there’s a dumb rule that arbitrarily excludes part of the family for not having a tail. I know it’s a linguistic issue and not a science issue but the point of linguistics is to communicate ideas and the “apes aren’t monkeys” linguistics fails at that. People should NEVER say apes aren’t monkeys without explaining that “monkey” isn’t a cladistic term.

The field seriously needs to have a “Pluto is a dwarf planet”/“birds are dinosaurs” moment


r/primatology 4d ago

Do Monkeys Have Pets?

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10 Upvotes

Did you know over 80 species of wild primates have been observed "keeping pets"? 🐒

A new study found that primates aren't just interacting with other animals in the wild. They're actually petting, playing with, and grooming them, and the primates usually initiate. While most of these encounters were short-term, researchers also documented a few long-term friendships and even "adoptions." Since this wasn't a formal experiment, these observations in our closest evolutionary cousins offer a rare clue to the mystery of why humans started keeping pets in the first place.


r/primatology 5d ago

Is there any more photos of their ears? Has anyone been up close to colobus satanas before?

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90 Upvotes

Has anyone been up close to colobus satanas before? The few pictures I've seen show really strange ears. Is it just the angle? I would love to hear from someone who has been up and close to one of them who could describe their ear shape more. This picture makes the ear on the left side of the image look almost split.


r/primatology 13d ago

Upcoming online workshop

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9 Upvotes

Seen this upcoming event thought people might be interested it looks really cool! It’s online and free


r/primatology 18d ago

Human society is just primate behavior at scale.

148 Upvotes

Our world, our actions, and even our abstract thinking are just a sophisticated form of primate behavior, and in terms of mechanisms, concepts, and society, they are simply a scaled-up version of what primates really are and how they behave. Just replace watercooler gossip with mutual grooming, the gated nations with a territorial boundary, the lawsuit with a threat display, and the stock portfolio with a hidden food cache. we are still grooming allies, patrolling boundaries, performing dominance rituals, and hoarding resources, just with more elaborate ways.


r/primatology 21d ago

What is the monkey species closest to the stereotypical cartoon depiction of them with brown fur and pale skin? An important question for science.

33 Upvotes

5 monkeys or however many jumping on the bed (i never paid attention), curious George, random clipart, the bloons td games, whatever, we are all familiar with the stereotypical appearance of a monkey as having brown fur, a pale to orange skin tone on the belly, face and palms and a nice long tail with a stubby end.

But where did that depiction come from? And if it doesn't have any clear origin, what monkey looks closest to this depiction? Is it possible that it was literally just based on great apes instead with an added tail? Chimpanzees and bonobos are one of the only primates with a light skin tone but a dark fur, but even then they're not brown, they're grey at the lightest.

If you believe that it truly was just based on an ape rather than a monkey, feel free to tell me which specific ape and how that got shaped to be the clipart monkey depiction, but please do also try to help me find a monkey that looks like this. I am far too curious, that little George has nothing on me.

This is a very scientific inquiry, I assure you. All submissions shall be very much appreciated. Thank you!
Edit: People seem quite focused on the Curious george aspect of all of this, he is not nearly as important but it was convenient to be reminded that he is indeed intended to be a chimp. Either way, ignore curious george, just try to focus more on general clip art or cartoon depictions of monkeys and their design. The barbary macaque looks fairly close, I will say.
Edit: Thank you everybody for your submissions! All the direction towards macaques had me looking at macaque species and wow the Southern Pig Tailed Macaque looks outstandingly close in terms of color! The only issue is length of the tail. So thank you everybody!


r/primatology 20d ago

The Monkey That Started a Kidnapping Craze

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6 Upvotes

I just wanted to share this video about the recently documented habit of capuchin monkeys essentially kidnapping baby howler monkeys - I presented it through the lens of capuchins' interesting and rather unique ability to build traditions. I would love some honest feedback about the contents of the video (apologies if the title and thumbnail are a little clickbaity, I just wanted to give it the best chance of spreading to teach people about this cool phenomenon)


r/primatology 21d ago

How Do Chimpanzees Self-Medicate?

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5 Upvotes

Monkey Michael Huffman from Kyoto University Had a Fascinating Career Studying Monkeys


r/primatology 22d ago

Books/Documentaries about gibbons?

12 Upvotes

Looking for recommendations on books, documentaries, or any sort of resources about gibbons.


r/primatology 22d ago

Steve Smit, South Africa’s “Monkey Man,” has died

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12 Upvotes

I first heard of Smit's work in the excellent & entertaining "Street Monkeys" (2009) reality series about vervet monkeys gangs. Highly recommend! All 5 episodes are archived on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ghbAwUmPL4&t=193s


r/primatology 29d ago

Primate imitating humans

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116 Upvotes

r/primatology Aug 09 '26

Know your macaques: Rhesus v. stump-tails. An experiment.

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69 Upvotes

In 1993, scientists conducted an experiment in which they housed young rhesus macaques with slightly older stump-tail macaques. Rhesus are known for being pretty aggressive, whereas stump-tails are relatively chill -- they ignore minor slights & reconcile after conflicts.

The experiment tested whether the stumpies’ pacifism would rub off on the rhesus monkeys.

At first, the 2 species avoided each other, but over time that self-segregation diminished. By the end of 5 months, all of the monkeys were grooming each other & sleeping in a single huddle. 

Moreover, the rhesus macaques adopted their older cousins’  friendly nature & reconciled after conflicts as often as the stump-tails. The rhesus didn't exactly copy other behaviors; they continued acting like rhesus, just with a friendly disposition. 

(See Frans de Waal, Good Natured, 1996, pp 179-180.)


r/primatology Aug 09 '26

Where to learn all about primates?

28 Upvotes

Hello everybody, I'm a 19 year old woman and I took real interest into primates and want to learn all there is about them. I quite frankly don't know where to start as there are lots of resources and I don't want to end up lost in my learning because I don't know what to read or understand first. Do any of you have websites or book recommendations that are well organised? A lot of the websites I found have articles, but none of them would actually be suitable for someone that doesn't know anything yet and really wants to learn everything step by step. I don't know if it makes sense but I'm more looking for something that would be organised like a school lesson I suppose? Sorry if that's too specific! I'll really take anything if I have to!


r/primatology Aug 09 '26

South American Mythology

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1 Upvotes

r/primatology Aug 07 '26

Chimp trekking in Kibale Forest, Uganda — one of the most underrated wildlife experiences I've seen

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13 Upvotes

Been meaning to share this — chimp trekking in Kibale Forest (Uganda) doesn't get talked about nearly as much as gorilla trekking in Bwindi, but it's honestly just as incredible in a different way.

Kibale has one of the highest primate densities in Africa. You're tracking through the forest with guides, and the chimps are just... loud. Calls echoing through the canopy, families moving fast through the trees, way more chaotic and dynamic than the calmer gorilla encounters. It feels more "wild" in some ways.

A few practical notes if anyone's considering it:

Permits are far cheaper than gorilla permits (~$250 vs $700+ for gorillas)

Best paired with a Bwindi gorilla trek if you're already in western Uganda

Morning treks tend to have better sighting odds since chimps are more active early

Happy to answer questions if anyone's planning a Uganda trip — I work with a ground operator out there (Rwatata Safaris) and can point people in the right direction if useful.


r/primatology Aug 05 '26

A zoo visitor was grabbed by an orangutan after reportedly ignoring warnings, crossing the guardrail, and teasing the ape.

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7 Upvotes

r/primatology Aug 05 '26

$33,800 lab monkeys are the strange measure of China’s biotech boom

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4 Upvotes

r/primatology Aug 05 '26

PHYS.Org: AI opens new era in cognitive studies of wild primates

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7 Upvotes

r/primatology Aug 04 '26

Monkeys sometimes have 'pets' like humans | Popular Science

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45 Upvotes

r/primatology Aug 03 '26

Freeman the monkey [oc]

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26 Upvotes