A group of gorillas have a surprising knack for hunting truffles, researchers find
Pigs typically get all of the praise when it comes to sniffing out truffles. However, some birds, a pair of specially trained dogs, and primates are also proving to be quite adept at finding these savory fungi which are a staple of fine dining. Some 'soil scratching' gorillas in Congo's Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park also appear to be foraging for a specific species of truffle and not insects as scientists long believed. The findings are detailed in a study recently published in the journal Primates.
An estimated 180 western lowland gorillas have reportedly reside in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo in Central Africa alongside Elephants and chimpanzees. The over 1,500 square mile lowland rainforest reserve was first established in 1993 and is managed by the Congolese government and Wildlife Conservation Society.
Scientists in the park initially believed that the gorillas were searching for insects to eat when they were scratching soil. With local transitional knowledge and molecular classification of the soil, the team observed four groups of gorillas every day for almost 10 years. They eventually succeeded in collecting specimens of the food that the gorillas were foraging for. Taxonomic identification of the food revealed that the gorillas were looking for a specific species of deer truffle (Elaphomyces labyrinthinus).
The team believes that this truffle foraging behavior has some important social implications for the primates. While not all of the gorilla groups engage in it, some individuals may give up and take it up again when they move from one group to another. This inter-group movement shows more about their social structure.
[ Related: Dogs sniff out two new species of truffle. ]
Other primate species have also helped researchers find entirely new species of truffles. In 2020, bonobos in Congo discovered Hysterangium bonobo, a type of fungi that allows trees to absorb key nutrients from the soil and supports the diets of other animals.
These new findings were developed by researcher Gaston Abea, of the semi-nomadic indigenous Bangombe people. Abea has been working for the park since 2000 and drew on his traditional knowledge and tracking skills to document this behavior.
'My people's traditional knowledge of these forests is endangered by modern lifestyles but is proving invaluable in continuing to study and preserve these ecosystems,' Abea, who is the lead author of the study, said in a statement. 'Our ancestors used to hunt gorillas, now we protect them, and I hope to inspire other Ba'Akas to do the same.'
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National Geographic
15-05-2025
- National Geographic
The world's sweetest dolphin is facing extinction—but it's not too late
Irrawaddy dolphins have captured hearts for generations for their adorable smirks and ability to help humans catch fish. Now it's our turn to help them. An orphaned Irrawaddy dolphin rests in the arms of its caretaker at the Marine Endangered Species Veterinary Hospital in Rayong, Thailand. Photograph By Sirachai Arunrugstichai/Getty On Myanmar's Ayeyarwady River, fishers tap the side of their boats and wait. If they're lucky, a gray dolphin with a rounded head and smirk appears. These are Irrawaddy dolphins—social, intelligent mammals that have fished alongside humans for generations. The dolphins herd fish toward the fishers' cast nets, and in return, they snag fish trapped near the edges or stuck in the mud at the bottom for themselves. One dolphin, named Gotama, is even known for giving a special signal—a flick of the tail—right before the fishers should cast their nets. She passed this signal on to her calf, to the delight of the fishers. 'This is a pretty rare phenomenon in the world in terms of human and wildlife cooperation. So, it's something we're not only interested in conserving on a species level, but also on a cultural level too,' says Brian Smith, a river dolphin expert and recently retired Wildlife Conservation Society researcher. 'It's a lesson to humanity about our relationship with wildlife.' Two Irrawaddy dolphins jump from the water. The dolphins are threatened by gill nets that trap fish in rivers. Photograph By Roland Seitre, Nature Picture Library While these fishers and their cast nets generally have a friendly relationship with the dolphins, not everywhere in the river is as hospitable. Tragically, gill nets—which hang vertically and trap fish by their gills—are entangling dolphins and driving them toward extinction. Without urgent action, these cooperative, curious creatures could disappear forever. 'If we don't get a handle on the accidental killing of these animals in fishing nets,' Smith says, 'particularly gill nets, the species is finished,' much like the Yangtze river dolphin, which disappeared from China's waters in 2006, despite conservation efforts, as well as Mexico's Vaquita dolphins, down to around 10 individuals. 'They're like children' The Irrawaddy dolphins are more than just helpful fishing companions. They are a strong part of the community, supporting the ecotourism industry for the region, as well as playing a part in local folklore. One legend tells of two mischievous children sent to collect firewood. Lost and hungry, they find a shaman's hut. After eating enchanted rice and diving into the river for water, they transform into dolphins. When villagers find them, it's too late to reverse the spell. 'So, people kind of care for them because they feel they're like children,' says Danielle Kreb, a scientist with the nonprofit Yayasan Konservasi Rare Aquatic Species of Indonesia. Irrawaddy dolphins also have a quirky trick—they spit water. It's not just for fun, though. They use it to herd fish into tight groups so they're easier to catch. Some scientists even think they might do it to impress a potential mate. Irrawaddy dolphins are unique among marine mammals because they are one of only six species that can live in freshwater. But they can also inhabit coastal waters—a trait shared by even fewer species. Their range includes patches of coastal waters of South and Southeast Asia, as well as three specific rivers: the Mekong in Cambodia, the Mahakam in Indonesia, and the Ayeyarwady in Myanmar. While the species as a whole is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the populations in these three rivers are considered critically endangered, with fewer than 100 individuals estimated in each. The remains of an endangered Irrawaddy dolphin. Photograph By Sirachai Arunrugstichai These rivers and coastal areas are often close to intense human activity, so in addition to gill nets, they face additional threats from pollution, habitat degradation from reduced or altered freshwater flows due to dams and embankments, coal-carrying ships, and illegal "electro-fishing"—a practice in which fishers send electric currents through the water to stun fish. This not only depletes the fish populations that dolphins rely on, but it can also injure or kill the dolphins themselves. One dolphin studied by Kreb in Indonesia's Mahakam River—where only about 60 individuals remain—was nicknamed Moose. Moose and her newborn calf, just minutes old, were both found dead. Testing later revealed they had been poisoned, likely by a pellet meant to kill fish. 'It's a really sad, sad case,' says Kreb. 'And it broke my heart because I felt I knew her very well. She had the sweetest face ever.' Committing to conservation Kreb is leading local conservation efforts along the Mahakam River, focusing on outreach, education, and the use of acoustic pingers to reduce dolphin deaths. These small devices emit a high-pitched, irritating sound that deters dolphins by disrupting their echolocation, keeping them away from dangerous fishing nets. But the design required careful calibration, Kreb explains: The sound had to be strong enough to act as a warning, but not so intense that it drove dolphins away from critical feeding areas. These pingers are effective at a range of about 10 meters, she says. Since launching the program in 2021, her team has distributed around 270 of them across the river. To raise awareness and funds for dolphin conservation—including the River Guard Program, where local people are hired to patrol the river and remove the gill nets from the waters—a small team of scientists and supporters, including Smith, swam 120 kilometers along the Mekong River in March, through the heart of Irrawaddy dolphin habitat. They stopped in villages to join outreach events organized by WWF Cambodia, government agencies, and local officials. A caretaker calms an orphaned Irrawaddy river dolphin at the Marine Endangered Species Veterinary Hospital in Rayong, Thailand. When the dolphin's ready, it will be released to join its wild pod. Photograph By Sirachai Arunrugstichai/Getty For Smith, conservation efforts need to focus on these small critical river populations, but also the last remaining stronghold of about 6,000 individuals in Bangladesh. He was part of the team that discovered this population in 2009, found mostly in the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest. 'The biggest contribution that could be made would be a long-term, sustainable effort to provide alternative livelihoods or supplementary livelihoods to the current fishers,' he says. 'And you have to have enforcement to make sure everybody's playing by the rules, establishing gill-net-free zones in the core areas of their distribution.' One of the great challenges in conservation is that often, what works isn't flashy or new—it's the 'same old, same old,' says Smith. But sustaining and strengthening those proven efforts is exactly what's needed to protect these animals. And this isn't just about saving species because they're rare or beautiful. It's about protecting something deeply meaningful to the communities who live alongside them, he adds. Smith remembers a young boy in the Irrawaddy region who worked with his father, cooperatively fishing with the dolphins. The whole village would playfully argue about who loved the dolphins most, until the boy finally said, 'Well, I love the dolphins more than I love my mother.' In the end, says Smith, this isn't just a biodiversity issue; it's also about 'conserving what's important to people.'
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Primates: Facts about the group that includes humans, apes, monkeys and other close relatives
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Quick facts about primates Where they live: Every continent except Australia and Antarctica What they eat: Mostly fruits, seeds, nuts, leaves and insects How big they are: The smallest primate species is only 5.4 inches (13.6 centimeters) tall, on average. The biggest — humans and gorillas — can be 6 feet (1.8 meters) or taller. Primates are a group of mammals that includes humans and our close relatives, such as apes, monkeys and lemurs. Monkeys, such as capuchins and macaques; prosimians, like lemurs and tarsiers; lesser apes, such as gibbons; and great apes, like gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans, are all primates. Our close extinct relatives, such as the Neanderthals, were also primates. Most primates live in tropical climates close to the equator, though some live in colder or snowy environments, like the mountains of Japan. Primates have larger brains than most other mammals of their size. This gives them advanced learning and problem-solving abilities. Many primates also live in complex social groups and communicate through vocal sounds, body language and facial expressions. Humans' closest living relatives are chimpanzees and bonobos — and a few of these animals have even been taught to understand some human language. Humans are primates, and chimpanzees and bonobos are our closest surviving relatives. Chimpanzees and capuchin monkeys use tools to get food. Primates often groom each other by picking off dirt and ticks, not just to stay clean, but also to build friendships and settle fights. Unlike many other mammals, which can see only two colors (blue and green), most primates can see three colors (blue, green and red). Kanzi, a bonobo born in captivity who was given language lessons, could play Minecraft and Pac-Man, and understand when his keepers spoke to him in English. The first primate-like creatures started appearing on Earth around 66 million to 74 million years ago. But some scientists think these creatures may be even older, showing up around 80 million to 90 million years ago, when dinosaurs still roamed Earth. The oldest primate bones we have ever found belong to an animal called Plesiadapis, which was about the size of a lemur and lived around 55 million years ago. Over time, early primates split into different groups. The first to appear were the prosimians. Next were the New World and then the Old World monkeys. Old World monkeys live in Asia and Africa and have downward-pointing nostrils, while New World monkeys have outward-pointing nostrils and live in Central and South America. Apes showed up millions of years later — Old World monkeys and apes shared a common ancestor around 25 million years ago. About 17 million years ago, apes split into the lesser apes and the great apes. Lesser apes include gibbons, and the great apes include chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutans and humans. Chimpanzees' and humans' last common ancestor lived between 6 million and 7 million years ago. Scientists don't know exactly how many primate species are alive today, but there are at least 500. But new primate species are still being discovered, with 130 new species and subspecies being described since 1990. Prosimians are the oldest type of primate. These tiny, big-eyed creatures live in trees and use their strong grip and long tails for balance. Galagos (bush babies), lemurs, lorises, pottos and tarsiers are all prosimians. Many of these species are active at night and use their large eyes for night vision. New World monkeys include capuchins, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, marmosets and tamarins. The world's smallest monkey is the pygmy marmoset, which lives in the Amazon rainforest. Old World monkeys include macaques, baboons, mandrills, proboscis monkeys and langurs. Unlike many New World monkeys, Old World monkeys cannot use their tails for gripping. Ape species are divided into the lesser apes, or gibbons, and the great apes, which include chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutans and humans. Apes are highly intelligent and known for their advanced problem-solving and communication skills. Most primates are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. But some species eat more meat than others. Tarsiers eat only meat, and some humans, such as those living in the Arctic, often get most of their calories from meat. Our extinct relatives, the Neanderthals, also ate mostly meat. But most primates eat a diet that is heavy in fruits, seeds, leaves and nuts, with some meat thrown in as well. Chimpanzees mostly eat fruit, but they have also been known to hunt and eat small animals, including monkeys, birds and small antelope. During these hunts, the chimps often work in groups to chase and corner prey, sometimes even using spear-like tools. Chimps also often use sticks to dig out ants or termites inside their nests without getting stung. And sometimes, they even eat their own kind after they have died. Bonobos, a close relative of chimpanzees, eat meat as frequently as chimps do, often feeding on birds, bats, monkeys and small antelope. Great apes like gorillas and orangutans very rarely eat meat in the wild. Capuchin monkeys occasionally eat lizards, frogs, birds and small rodents. Scientists have also seen them eating dead members of their own species. As some of the more clever monkeys, they also use tools, like sticks and stones, to catch prey. Tarsiers, meanwhile, survive on a meat-only diet made up of insects, birds, lizards and even bats. Most primates have opposable thumbs. This means their thumbs can touch the tips of all of their other fingers. Great apes have very sophisticated opposable thumbs on both their hands and their feet. They use these nimble fingers to handle tools, swing between the branches of trees, and groom one another. Nearly every great ape species uses tools. Gorillas use sticks to measure water depth. Orangutans use stone tools as hammers. Chimpanzees use sticks to eat ants and termites, and they have been seen using a spongy mass of chewed leaves to soak up water for drinking. They also use stone tools to crack open nuts. Most Old World monkeys, including macaques and baboons, have opposable thumbs, which they use for handling food. Lemurs, lorises and some New World monkeys, like capuchins, have "pseudo" — fake — opposable thumbs. This means they can partially move toward the other fingers, but not with the same full range of motion or grip strength as true opposable thumbs. Some primates, such as marmosets and tarsiers, have non-opposable thumbs, which cannot rotate or move across the palm to touch the other fingers. Colobus monkeys and spider monkeys barely have thumbs at all. Their tiny, stubby thumbs aren't functional, which means they have only four useful fingers. Colobus monkeys use their hands as hooks for leaping and swinging through trees, while spider monkeys rely heavily on their prehensile tail, which acts like a fifth limb. Image 1 of 5 Many species of primates, such as the lar gibbon pictured above, are highly skilled at climbing trees. Image 2 of 5 There are hundreds of species of primates, each with their own unique characteristics. Proboscis monkeys are known for their unusual noses. Image 3 of 5 Gorillas are the largest living primates. Image 4 of 5 Many species of primates are highly intelligent and have been observed using tools, such as this chimpanzee using a stick to get food from a closed box. Image 5 of 5 Primates, such as these two juvenile bonobos, are highly social. —Monkeys: Facts about the largest group of primates —Chimpanzees: Intelligent, social and violent —Why haven't all primates evolved into humans?
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
What's the difference between apes and monkeys?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. On its face, a comparison of monkeys and apes seems straightforward: Modern primates have defining physical features and behaviors that clearly sort them in different categories. Beginning with living animals, those differences are easy to pick out. Most monkeys have tails; some have prehensile tails, which means they can grasp and hold things. They're quadrupeds, meaning they use all four limbs to get around. They have four limbs that are about the same length, as well as a flexible spine. Monkeys can be subdivided into Old World and New World classifications based on where they live. Old World monkeys live in Africa and Asia, while New World monkeys live in Central and South America, according to the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance. Old World monkeys are also known as African-Eurasian and New World monkeys as Neotropical. Apes, on the other hand, don't have tails. Their "orthograde" body plan makes them capable of standing upright and gives them disproportionate limbs, with long arms and shorter legs. Inversely, humans — which are also apes — have long legs and shorter arms. Apes also have a larger brain relative to their body size than monkeys do, which has critical implications for intelligence. "There is a significant difference in intelligence between monkeys and apes," Becky Malinsky, curator of primates at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, told Live Science in an email. "While monkeys are capable of complex thinking, they generally have a lower cognitive capacity than apes." Related: What did the last common ancestor between humans and apes look like? Apes can be subdivided into the great and lesser apes based on their size. Great apes include chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), eastern gorillas (Gorilla beringei), western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and bonobos (Pan paniscus) — all of which live in Africa — and orangutans (Pongo), which live in Southeast Asia. Lesser apes comprise gibbons and siamangs, which live in Southeast Asia. Although humans are also great apes, this article focuses on non-human primates. But when you consider their evolutionary history, the difference between apes and monkeys is murkier. "From the surface, it seems like a very easy thing to discuss," Sergio Almécija, a senior research scientist of biological anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, told Live Science. "But that superficial impression, I think, [is] based on living animals only." According to a review published in the journal Science in 2021, of which Almécija is the lead author, humans diverged from apes — specifically chimpanzees — between 9.3 million and 6.5 million years ago. RELATED MYSTERIES —Why do chimpanzees throw poop? —Could monkeys really type the complete works of Shakespeare? —Why haven't all primates evolved into humans? But apes and monkeys diverged from their last common ancestor even longer ago: between 23 million and 34 million years ago, according to a 2013 paper published in the journal Nature. The authors analyzed the oldest known fossils from Old World (African-Eurasian) monkeys and apes, found in the Rukwa Rift Basin in southwestern Tanzania: a partial jawbone with three teeth from an ape, and a single molar from a monkey. The team classified these novel fossil primates, calling the ape Rukwapithecus fleaglei and the monkey Nsungwepithecus gunnelli. Geological dating of the rock layer in which these fossils were found indicate they're about 25.2 million years old. Still, there's much more to learn about how primates evolved over millions of years. "The fossil record can lead to varying interpretations and debate," Malinsky wrote. "It's really much more complex than we think," Almécija said. "We don't have as much information as we think we do to answer some of these questions."
