It has become known that kissing is not a “romantic” behavior characteristic of humanity. Scientists from the University of Oxford have found that “mouth-to-mouth contact” (without food transfer and aggression) arose as early as 21.5 million years ago, when the common ancestor of great apes already “kissed”.
A research team led by evolutionary biologist Dr. Matilda Brindle studied kissing behavior in the animal world to build its evolution.
The study was published in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour. Scientists found such behavior not only in chimpanzees and bonobos, but also in wolves, Pyrenean dogs, polar bears (with very “wet” kisses), and even albatrosses.
Interestingly, Neanderthals also kissed. Shared bacteria found in human and Neanderthal DNA suggest that the two species have been “swapping”—kissing—for hundreds of thousands of years.
Scientists are also investigating why kissing evolved, a mystery that remains.
Perhaps it stems from grooming behavior, or maybe it’s a way to check on a couple’s health. One thing is clear, they argue, though: kissing is not a human monopoly, but a shared heritage.
