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Cindysays
How gentle and peaceful…it’s interesteing how as Burrito grooms Negra with his fingers his lips are moving. It looks like a reflexive thing or am I just seeing things? Like little kids, or sometimes the rest of us too, who do things with their hands and also move their lips.
I was thinking the other day how so many of us have grown so used to our daily blog “fix”!! It’s pretty amazing to be able to be so “intimate” with the chimps on a daily basis – a truly unique and wonderful experience!!
I think was thinking about that when almost 2 days went by without a post!!!! I needed my fix!!!
Jillsays
I love this video! I love all the chimps, but some definitely seem to be more extroverted, so we don’t see as much of the others. And I love when we get glimpses of some we don’t see as much, like this video.
oh, Cindy, I couldn’t agree with you more. I love being able to “share” these moments.
Linda (Portland, OR)says
I will never stop being amazed at how truly gentle they are with each other when the situation calls for it. It’s so much fun to watch them when they’re bouncing off the walls (and each other) but these gentle moments are a real gift for those of us who need our blogs! Ths was an extra special one!! Thx for sharing it with us!
It looks like he’s occasionally using his lips to help his fingers pick debris from her hair and skin. Maybe even sampling his pickings from time to time to see if he’s found anything tasty! Mmmm. Or possibly there’s vitamin D in the skin flakes?
Shelly Knappsays
ooohhhhh….if anyone deserves a sweet, gentle grooming, it’s Negra 🙂
Dianasays
Re: the question of lip movement – it is common for chimpanzees, as well as other primates, to “lip smack” or “teeth clack” or make some other “sympathetic mouth movement” when grooming (also when performing other fine motor behaviors – like many of us who move our tongue a certain way when we’re really concentrating on a task).
Each chimpanzee does his/her own thing, Burrito is a lip smacker (I think he may teeth clack on occasion too), Foxie is a teeth clacker, and Annie makes raspberry sounds with her lips. The intensity of the mouth movement/noise will increase if something is found during grooming.
Some scientists have hypothesized that these sympathetic mouth movements were an evolutionary step towards spoken language. Our friend Gabe and Central WA University professor Dr. Fouts published a study on sympathetic mouth movements a few years back: http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=13499909
For the most part, aside from the social aspects, grooming is the removal of dirt and debris and the picking of scabs. It’s why chimps don’t need baths – they do a good job of cleaning themselves and each other. The debris found on the grooming partner is not necessarily consumed. Chimps use their lips almost like another set of fingers for many activities like turning the pages of a magazine, inspecting objects, and when grooming.
Theresasays
I’ve noticed those mouth movements with other chimps too but never thought about why they did it. Thanks Diana! Very interesting information and another fact I can add to what I have learned about chimpanzees. I really enjoy the education on the behavior of these precious animals.
Negra is not often seen and that makes this video even more precious. She is such a beautiful girl. I hope to see her come out of her shell like the others have. Maybe she just needs a bit more time.
katmorrellsays
It seems to me that grooming is also a sign of respect. The lower ones groom the higher ones. If this is true, then it is a testimony to Negra that Burrito grooms her. She is the elder of the tribe. And cudos to Burrito for acknowledging that.
I love to see that they are friends and have bonded as a tribe.
Annasays
It looks like Burrito softly kisses Negra a couple of times in the middle of all that lip smacking … how sweet! 🙂
Candace (Tyler, TX)says
I’m amazed at how “still” Negra’s sitting as he’s grooming her face. If I had someone that close to my eyes I’d be flinching and moving my head back. Negra does none of this, again, amazing.
How gentle and peaceful…it’s interesteing how as Burrito grooms Negra with his fingers his lips are moving. It looks like a reflexive thing or am I just seeing things? Like little kids, or sometimes the rest of us too, who do things with their hands and also move their lips.
I was thinking the other day how so many of us have grown so used to our daily blog “fix”!! It’s pretty amazing to be able to be so “intimate” with the chimps on a daily basis – a truly unique and wonderful experience!!
I think was thinking about that when almost 2 days went by without a post!!!! I needed my fix!!!
I love this video! I love all the chimps, but some definitely seem to be more extroverted, so we don’t see as much of the others. And I love when we get glimpses of some we don’t see as much, like this video.
oh, Cindy, I couldn’t agree with you more. I love being able to “share” these moments.
I will never stop being amazed at how truly gentle they are with each other when the situation calls for it. It’s so much fun to watch them when they’re bouncing off the walls (and each other) but these gentle moments are a real gift for those of us who need our blogs! Ths was an extra special one!! Thx for sharing it with us!
It looks like he’s occasionally using his lips to help his fingers pick debris from her hair and skin. Maybe even sampling his pickings from time to time to see if he’s found anything tasty! Mmmm. Or possibly there’s vitamin D in the skin flakes?
ooohhhhh….if anyone deserves a sweet, gentle grooming, it’s Negra 🙂
Re: the question of lip movement – it is common for chimpanzees, as well as other primates, to “lip smack” or “teeth clack” or make some other “sympathetic mouth movement” when grooming (also when performing other fine motor behaviors – like many of us who move our tongue a certain way when we’re really concentrating on a task).
Each chimpanzee does his/her own thing, Burrito is a lip smacker (I think he may teeth clack on occasion too), Foxie is a teeth clacker, and Annie makes raspberry sounds with her lips. The intensity of the mouth movement/noise will increase if something is found during grooming.
Some scientists have hypothesized that these sympathetic mouth movements were an evolutionary step towards spoken language. Our friend Gabe and Central WA University professor Dr. Fouts published a study on sympathetic mouth movements a few years back: http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=13499909
For the most part, aside from the social aspects, grooming is the removal of dirt and debris and the picking of scabs. It’s why chimps don’t need baths – they do a good job of cleaning themselves and each other. The debris found on the grooming partner is not necessarily consumed. Chimps use their lips almost like another set of fingers for many activities like turning the pages of a magazine, inspecting objects, and when grooming.
I’ve noticed those mouth movements with other chimps too but never thought about why they did it. Thanks Diana! Very interesting information and another fact I can add to what I have learned about chimpanzees. I really enjoy the education on the behavior of these precious animals.
Negra is not often seen and that makes this video even more precious. She is such a beautiful girl. I hope to see her come out of her shell like the others have. Maybe she just needs a bit more time.
It seems to me that grooming is also a sign of respect. The lower ones groom the higher ones. If this is true, then it is a testimony to Negra that Burrito grooms her. She is the elder of the tribe. And cudos to Burrito for acknowledging that.
I love to see that they are friends and have bonded as a tribe.
It looks like Burrito softly kisses Negra a couple of times in the middle of all that lip smacking … how sweet! 🙂
I’m amazed at how “still” Negra’s sitting as he’s grooming her face. If I had someone that close to my eyes I’d be flinching and moving my head back. Negra does none of this, again, amazing.