Apes

It has long been believed that our prehistoric ancestors started walking on two legs as they moved from the trees into the open environment of the African savanna. A new study of chimpanzees, however, suggests that such may not have been the case.

A newly discovered fossil may change what we know about an ancient human relative. Vertebrae from the lower back of an Australopithecus sediba reveal it was surprisingly well adapted to walking upright like a human, while also climbing like an ape.

For the first time, new research describes both gesture-based and vocal communication among wild orang-utans: specifically Southwest Bornean orang-utan mothers and their young.

It's tempting to pin the rise of humanity to become the world's dominant species on our ability to out-think the competition. But new research suggests that our abilities to work together and share are the key to our success.

Surprising new research shows that chimpanzees and bonobos share common gestures and meanings. That's fascinating in itself, but it raises intriguing questions as to how sign language is inherited, and whether humans share any gestures and meanings with other apes.​

New animal species are constantly turning up in the deep oceans, thick jungles, or even dusty museum store rooms. Here’s our favorite new additions to the Tree of Life in 2017, as well as a couple of “Lazarus” creatures that were believed extinct but rediscovered this year.

​Are human beings the only animals that will help other members of their species out, even if they don't know them? Not according to Jingzhi Tan, a postdoctoral associate in evolutionary anthropology at Duke University. He has observed wild bonobos being nice to bonobos that they don't know.

Researchers have found human-like footprints dating back 5.7 million years – a time when our ancestors were thought to still be getting around on ape-like feet. More mysteriously, these prints were found in the Greek islands, implying hominins left Africa much earlier than previously thought.

It's generally accepted that humans originated in Africa, but new studies may paint a different picture. By examining fossils of early homini​ns, researchers have found that humans and chimpanzees may have split earlier than previously thought, and this may have happened in Europe, not Africa.

​​The chimpanzees of Comoé National Park, Ivory Coast, have come up with a resourceful way to stay hydrated, developing sticks to dip into tree holes and soak up water for consumption.

Researchers have recorded videos of chimp parents actively teaching their young how to use tools, as opposed to the skills being passed down through observation alone.

Us humans know that even if someone believes something, that thing may not in fact be true. According to new research, however, some of our fellow apes may likewise be aware that what people think doesn't necessarily mesh with reality.​