Human and ape behavior

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This article will detail similarities and differences in the behaviors of human beings and the rest of the great apes. Topics covered will include sexual behavior, sexual dimorphism, aggression, family structure, political behavior, and tool use.

Humanity's physical ascent from the australopithecines and the other early hominids to present form is documented in the human fossil record, but only rudimentary assumptions on the behavioral characteristics of early humanity can be ascertained from the fossil record. Unable to directly observe the early hominids, humans look to others in the order [primates] to hypothesize the behaviors of their fossil ancestors. Of particular interest are the non-human Great Apes, who shared lineage with humanity more recently than any other primate. They are composed of the orangutan, gorilla, and the common and bonobo chimpanzee. The Great Apes and humans share a substantial amount of genes, and thus homo sapien is considered to be a member of the Great Apes as well.

Humans and the Great Apes share a number of similar behavioral characteristics that potentially shed light onto the rise of intelligence in humans. These characteristics include tool using behavior, social group dynamics, capacity for language and comprehension, and levels of aggression.

Separation of humans and Great Apes

Apes and humans shared a common ancestor tens of millions of years ago, but diverged from that lineage at differing intervals. Orangutans are the furthest removed from human lineage both genetically and temporally. They are believed to have diverged from human lineage 14-16 million years ago.


[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Citations

  1. ↑ “Cultural transmission in the tool use and communicatory signaling of chimpanzees?” Language and Intelligence 274-285
  2. ↑ “Social Tool Use” by free-ranging orangutans. Language and Intelligence 346-351
  3. ↑ Pitcairn, Thomas K. (1974) Aggression in Natural Groups of Pongids. In: Holloway, Ralph, editor. Primate Aggression, Territoriality, and Xenophobia. New York and London: Academic Press. pp 242-253
  4. ↑ Van Schaik, Carel (2004) Among Orangutans ISBN 0674015770
  5. ↑ Russon, Anne E. (1999) Orangutan’s Imitation of Tool Use: A Cognitive Interpretation. In: Parker, ST, Mitchell, RW, Miles, HL, editors. The Mentalities of Gorillas and Orangutans: Comparative Perspectives. UK: Cambridge University Press. Pp. 117-137
  6. ↑ Miles, H. Lyn (1999) Symbolic Communication with and by Great Apes. In: Parker, ST, Mitchell, RW, Miles, HL, editors. The Mentalities of Gorillas and Orangutans: Comparative Perspectives. UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 117-137
  7. ↑ Mitchell, Robert W. (1999) Deception and Concealment as Strategic Script Violation in Great Apes and Humans. In: Parker, ST, Mitchell, RW, Miles, HL, editors. The Mentalities of Gorillas and Orangutans: Comparative Perspectives. UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 295-310
  8. ↑ Bramblett, Claud A. (1976) Primate Behavior ISBN 087487326X
  9. ↑ Matsuzawa, T. et al (2001) Emergence of Culture in Wild Chimpanzees: Education by Master-Apprenticeship. In: Matsuzawa, T., editor. Primate Origins of Human Cognition and Behavior. Tokyo: Springer-Verlag. pp. 557-574
  10. ↑ Yamakoshi, Gen (2001) Ecology of Tool Use in Wild Chimpanzees: Toard Reconstruction of Early Hominid Evolution. In: Matsuzawa, T., editor. Primate Origins of Human Cognition and Behavior. Tokyo: Springer-Verlag. pp. 537-556
  11. ↑ Susman, Randall L. (1987) Pygmy Chimpanzees and Common Chimpanzees: Models for the Behavioral Ecology of the Earliest Hominids. In: Kinsey, Warren G., editor. The Evolution of Human Behavior: Primate Models. Albany: State University of New York Press. pp. 72-86
  12. ↑ Kinsey, Warren G. (1987) A Primate Model for Human Mating Systems. . In: Kinsey, Warren G., editor. The Evolution of Human Behavior: Primate Models. Albany: State University of New York Press. pp. 105-114
  13. ↑ De Waal, Franz (2005) Our Inner Ape ISBN 1594481962
  14. ↑ Falk, Dean (2000) Primate Diversity ISBN 0393974286
  15. ↑ Groves, Colin (2006) Another View of Gorilla Relationships. Gorilla Jour 62. Available: http://www.berggorilla.org/english/gjournal/texte/32mensch-gorilla-groves.html. Accessed 31 March 2008
  16. ↑ Zimmer, Carl (1995) Tooling through the trees – tool use by wild orangutans. Discovery. 1 November. Available at: http://discovermagazine.com/1995/nov/toolingthroughth593/?searchterm=tooling%20through%20the%20trees. Accessed 15 March 2008
  17. ↑ Breuer T, Ndoundou-Hockemba M, Fishlock V (2005) First Observation of Tool Use in Wild Gorillas. PLoS Biol 3(11): e380 doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0030380
  18. ↑ Mercader, J. et al (2007) 4,300-Year-old chimpanzee sites and the origins of percussive stone technology. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 104(9): 3043–3048 PMCID: PMC1805589
  19. ↑ Cawthon Lang KA. (2005) Primate Factsheets: Gorilla (Gorilla) Behavior.Primate Factsheets. 4 October. Available at: http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/gorilla/behav. Accessed 21 March 2008
  20. ↑ Cawthon Lang KA. (2005) Primate Factsheets: Orangutan (Pongo) Behavior. Primate Factsheets. 13 June. Available at: http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/orangutan/behav. Accessed 21 March 2008
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