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2022-01-22 19:31:22

PuraVida Photo posted a photo:

Effi self-grooming
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“M” Group, Greystoke Mahale, Mahale National Park, Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania, November 2021
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Grooming behavior is common among primates. Grooming promotes personal hygiene, strengthens social bonding, and is simply a pleasant way to pass the time. Among chimpanzees, grooming behaviors play a part in political maneuvering as well. Males vying for alpha status will curry favor and/or cement allies’ allegiance by who they groom. However, chimps being fickle, calculating, or just plain devious will engage in “fake” grooming to lower a rivals’ suspicions and catch him off guard when the inevitable betrayal occurs.

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