Kris H Sabbi, Sophia E Kurilla, Isabelle G Monroe, Yukun Zhang, Ashley Menante, Megan F Cole, Emily Otali, Maggy Kobusingye, Melissa Emery Thompson, Martin N Muller, Richard W Wrangham, Zarin P Machanda
Though common among humans, social play by adults is an uncommon occurrence in most animals, even between parents and offspring.1 , 2 , 3 The most common explanation for why adult play is so rare is that its function and benefits are largely limited to development, so that social play has little value later in life.3 , 4 , 5 , 6 Here, we draw from 10 years of behavioral data collected by the Kibale Chimpanzee Project to consider an alternative hypothesis: that despite its benefits, adult play in non-humans is ecologically constrained by energy shortage or time limitations...
March 8, 2024: Current Biology: CB