New fossil studies tell us our ancient ancestors enjoyed a diet of soft, sweet fruits. This would have influenced where they lived and spread to – and even the evolution of colour vision.
Artist’s impression of a group of Gigantopithecus blacki in a forest in southern China.
Garcia/Joannes-Boyau (Southern Cross University)
Contrary to the idea that apes evolved their upright posture to reach for fruit in the forest canopy, the earliest known ape with this stature, Morotopithecus, lived in more open grassy environments.
Most of us have heard of the dangers of deforestation but there are other more subtle ways that human beings can endanger monkeys, apes and lemurs.
Issa chimpanzees live in a woodland dominated environment interspersed with riparian forests, grasslands, and rocky out-crops.
Photo: R. Drummond-Clarke/GMERC
We studied 8,000 primate teeth and finally confirmed that humans are not the only living primate to suffer from cavities. But there are interesting differences.
About 60 per cent of monkeys, apes, lemurs, lorises and tarsiers are threatened with extinction. Climate change will only make it more difficult for them to survive.
Hollywood has picked a winner, but what does the science say?
Courtesy of Warner Bros Entertainment
Kiersten Formoso, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Hollywood loves a good monster battle, and where better to turn for inspiration than the animal kingdom? Traits from real animals can provide clues about the fighting prowess of Kong and Godzilla.
Animalisation remains a malicious and effective form of dehumanisation. Simianisation is a version of this strategy, which historically manifested a lethal combination of sexism and racism.