Placentophagy in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) at Bossou, Guinea

Primates; Journal of Primatology
Michiko FujisawaTetsuro Matsuzawa

Abstract

Despite intensive observation of nonhuman great apes during long-term field studies, observations of great ape births in the wild are rare. Research on wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) at Bossou in the Republic of Guinea has been ongoing for 35 years, yet chimpanzee parturitions have been observed on only two occasions. Here we provide information regarding both chimpanzee births, with detailed information from the close observation of one. During this birth, the mother built a day nest in a tree before parturition. After giving birth, the mother consumed the placenta, and the other chimpanzees in her party gathered near her and her neonate. However, she did not share the placenta, and consumed it all herself. In the second observation, the mother also built a nest in a tree and subsequently gave birth. Thereafter, she shared the placenta with some individuals and consumed part of the placenta herself. Although maternal placentophagy is a ubiquitous behavior among the majority of non-human primates, observations of placenta sharing by wild primates are infrequent, and the proximate and ultimate explanations for the behavior remain unclear.

References

Jan 1, 1991·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·M B Kristal
Jan 1, 1972·Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology·A Jolly
Jan 1, 1980·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·M B Kristal
Mar 6, 2003·American Journal of Primatology·Toshisada NishidaKoichiro Zamma
May 26, 2004·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Yukimaru Sugiyama
Aug 9, 2006·Medical Hypotheses·Péter Apari, Lajos Rózsa
Sep 5, 2006·Current Biology : CB·Kimberley J HockingsTetsuro Matsuzawa
Sep 13, 2007·PloS One·Kimberley J HockingsTetsuro Matsuzawa
Dec 17, 2008·Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology·Makoto K ShimadaNaruya Saitou
Apr 9, 2009·PloS One·Cristina M Gomes, Christophe Boesch
May 25, 2010·Journal of Human Evolution·Ian C GilbyRichard Wrangham
Sep 21, 2010·American Journal of Primatology·Naruki MorimuraTetsuro Matsuzawa
Apr 22, 2011·Biology Letters·Satoshi HirataHideko Takeshita
May 29, 2012·Ecology of Food and Nutrition·Mark B KristalAlexis C Thompson
Jan 10, 2013·PloS One·Jingzhi Tan, Brian Hare
Jan 1, 1994·American Journal of Primatology·Yukimaru Sugiyama

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.