Archive · 21 Nov 2025
Kissing: An Evolutionary Trait in Great Apes
Scientists found that kissing is not just a human thing we do, but something that has been happening in the animal world for a really, really long time.
They looked at different kinds of apes and found that many of them kiss too.
This means kissing might have started way back when our ancestors were still apes.
It's like a way for them to show affection or even help them make babies.
Isn't that cool?
Kissing likely evolved 16.9-21.5 million years ago among ancestors of today's large apes
Observed in most great apes, including humans, orangutans, bonobos, chimps, and one gorilla species
Not just a social ritual, but an evolutionary trait with an 'evolutionary signature'
More research needed to understand different forms of kissing and their development
Kissing may have originated as a way to increase chances of reproduction or reinforce emotional bonding
- Who
- Great apes, including humans
- What
- Kissing
- When
- Around 16.9-21.5 million years ago
- Where
- Among ancestors of today's large apes
- Why
- To understand the evolutionary history of kissing and its potential benefits
Cultural Perspective
Evolutionary Perspective
Origin of Kissing
Cultural Perspective
Kissing is a cultural behavior that humans developed over time
Evolutionary Perspective
Kissing has an evolutionary signature and likely evolved from our ape ancestors
Purpose of Kissing
Cultural Perspective
Kissing is a social ritual and expression of attraction and affection
Evolutionary Perspective
Kissing may have evolved due to certain life-history traits and could have other evolutionary benefits
- Study Title
- A comparative approach to the evolution of kissing
- Published In
- Evolution and Human Behavior
- Lead Authors
- Matilda Brindle and Stuart West of Oxford University, Catherine F Talbot of Florida Tech
- Methodology
- Cross-species approach based on the primate family tree
- Kissing Species Observed
- Orangutans, bonobos, chimps, one gorilla species, and humans
