New fossils of oldest American primate

Link: New fossils of oldest American primate

Johns Hopkins researchers have identified the first ankle and toe bone fossils from the earliest North American true primate, which they say suggests that our earliest forerunners may have dwelled or moved primarily in trees, like modern day lemurs and similar mammals.

Talk Nerdy To Me: Are We Not Apes? (video)

Link: Talk Nerdy To Me: Are We Not Apes? (video)

In introducing this week’s topic, I fear that my language may have painted something of a false dichotomy. Are we “just” wild animals, or are we somehow separate from the many species with whom we share planet Earth? I often find myself guilty of stratifying the human experience far above that of “lesser” creatures, an exercise which can frankly be taken to a dangerous extreme when the sanctity of life is in question.

Baby apes' arm waving hints at origins of language

Link: Baby apes' arm waving hints at origins of language

Actions speak louder than words. Baby chimps, bonobos, gorillas and orang-utans – our four closest living relatives – quickly learn to use visual gestures to get their message across, providing the latest evidence that hand waving may have been a vital first step in the development of human language.

Primates leapt to social living

Link: Primates leapt to social living

Scientists may be a step closer to understanding the origins of human social behaviour.

An analysis of over 200 primate species by a University of Oxford team suggests that our ancestors gave up their solitary existence when they shifted from being nocturnal creatures to those that are active during the day.

It is likely communal living was adopted to protect against day time predators, the researchers say.

The results are published in Nature.

Baboons follow the leader to breakfast

Link: Baboons follow the leader to breakfast

Now the latest research suggests that similar rules apply to the wild chacmababoons of Namibia; it turns out that the best leaders are the most sociable types with lots of friends.

A European team of scientists found that when one baboon sets an example by moving off in search of breakfast, the others follow. But these movements are far from random. Instead, they appear to follow a clearly-defined rule; baboons that are central in the grooming network have the best chance of being followed.