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Primates; journal of primatology2020; 61(1); 1-7; doi: 10.1007/s10329-019-00786-1

Responses to death and dying: primates and other mammals.

Abstract: Although some definitions of thanatology-broadly definable as the study of death and dying-exclude nonhumans as subjects, recognition of the scientific value of studying how other species respond to sick, injured, dying and dead conspecifics appears to be growing. And whereas earlier literature was largely characterized by anecdotal descriptions and sometimes fanciful interpretations, we now see more rigorous and often quantitative analysis of various behaviors displayed towards conspecifics (and sometimes heterospecifics) at various stages of incapacitation, including death. Studies of social insects in particular have revealed chemical cues that trigger corpse management behaviors, as well as the adaptive value of these behaviors. More recent research on other taxonomic groups (including aquatic and avian species, and mammals) has sought to better document these animals' responses to the dying and dead, to identify influencing factors and underlying mechanisms, and to better understand the physiological, emotional, social and psychological significance of the phenomena observed. This special issue presents original short reports, reviews, and full research articles relating to these topics in New World monkeys, Old World monkeys and apes, as well as equids and proboscids. The range of events, data, hypotheses and proposals presented will hopefully enrich the field and stimulate further developments in comparative evolutionary thanatology.
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Publication Date: 2020-01-07 PubMed ID: 31902088DOI: 10.1007/s10329-019-00786-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research article explores the scientific study of how different animal species respond to sick, injured, dying, and dead members of their own species, a branch of study known as thanatology. The study highlights how understanding these behaviors can provide valuable insights into the physiological, emotional, social, and psychological mechanisms influencing different species, including new and old world monkeys, equids, proboscids, avian, and aquatic species.

Understanding Thanatology in Various Species

  • The article presents an expanding field of science called thanatology, which delves into the study of death and dying. Initially, this field was mainly focused on humans, but now includes non-human species, recognising the scientific value such observations can provide.
  • Nowadays, the studies on thanatology have moved beyond anecdotal descriptions and often fanciful interpretations to include rigorous, often quantitative analysis of various behaviors displayed towards incapacitated members of the same species (conspecifics) and sometimes different species (heterospecifics).

A Focus on Social Insects and Other Taxonomic Groups

  • Particularly, studies on social insects have shed light on their unique responses to death. These studies revealed certain chemical cues that guide corpse management behaviors and highlighted the adaptive significance of such behaviors.
  • Meanwhile, newer research focuses on a wider array of taxonomic groups – these include aquatic and avian species, and mammals. The aim is to document their responses to the dying and dead, discover influencing factors and underlying mechanisms, and discern the physiological, emotional, social, and psychological significance of the observed phenomena.

Insights from Studies on Primates, Equids, and Proboscids

  • Additionally, this issue presents short reports, reviews, and full research articles on how these topics relate to New World monkeys, Old World monkeys and apes, and equids and proboscids (large mammals like elephants).
  • The goal is to enrich the field of comparative evolutionary thanatology, and stimulate more developments in the exploration of how different species respond to death and dying within their groups.

Cite This Article

APA
Anderson JR. (2020). Responses to death and dying: primates and other mammals. Primates, 61(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-019-00786-1

Publication

Primates; journal of primatology
ISSN: 1610-7365
NlmUniqueID: 0401152
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 61
Issue: 1
Pages: 1-7

Researcher Affiliations

Anderson, James R
  • Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan. j.r.anderson@psy.bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Death
  • Elephants / psychology
  • Horses / psychology
  • Primates / psychology
  • Social Behavior

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
  1. Valença T, Falótico T. Life and death of a disabled wild capuchin monkey infant. Primates 2023 Mar;64(2):207-213.
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  3. Soldati A, Fedurek P, Crockford C, Adue S, Akankwasa JW, Asiimwe C, Asua J, Atayo G, Chandia B, Freymann E, Fryns C, Muhumuza G, Taylor D, Zuberbühler K, Hobaiter C. Dead-infant carrying by chimpanzee mothers in the Budongo Forest. Primates 2022 Sep;63(5):497-508.
    doi: 10.1007/s10329-022-00999-xpubmed: 35819534google scholar: lookup
  4. Freire Filho R, Inforzato I, Tabacow FP, Martins W, Possamai CB, Ferraz D, Hack ROE, Rocha S, Slomp DV, Nery MS, Almeida L, Fernandes N, Alves PPR, Mendes SL, Strier KB. Thanatology in the northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus). Primates 2022 Jul;63(4):335-342.
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