Apes tease their friends just like humans do.
Apes tease their friends in the same way as humans
A team of researchers analysed video clips of chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans and found that the primates poked, hair-pulled and body-slammed other members of their group as well as repeatedly waving objects in front of their faces.
The experts explained that the teasing was mainly one-sided and, just like in human beings, included elements of both surprise and play.
They also say that the findings show that playful teasing and joking could have evolved in human ancestors approximately 13 million years ago.
Dr. Isabelle Laumer, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour in Germany, said: "Great apes are excellent candidates for playful teasing, as they are closely related to us, engage in social play, show laughter and display relatively sophisticated understandings of others' expectations."