The evolution of aggressive and amicable play fighting in primates

A Phylogenetic Perspective

Bibliographic Data

ID5145045
AuthorsM Pelli (0000-0002-1172-0658, University of Lethbridge, corresponding author), C Pellis, Vivien C Pellis (University of Lethbridge), J R Ham (0000-0003-2712-7768, University of Lethbridge)
Year2023
Volume12
Issue1
Pages101-112
Publication date2023-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Play (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2159-4937 • E-ISSN: 2159-4953
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/21594937.2022.2152537
OpenAlexW4313421816
LanguageEN
References cited31

Play fighting involves competing for an advantage, which can be derived from behavior typical of conspecific aggression, predation, sexual and other affinitive contexts. Here the phylogenetic distribution of aggressive play fighting (involving biting) and amicable play fighting (involving grooming and mounting) in juveniles of 48 species of primates was analyzed. Both aggressive and amicable play fighting were likely equally present in ancestral primates, and then some lineages either maintained that pattern or exaggerated the use of one type relative to the other. In species engaging in both types of play, the ancestral pattern is for them to remain distinct, with sequences of one type not transforming into sequences of the other type. In two genera, mixing types of play was exaggerated, with rapid bidirectional transitions between aggressive and amicable play. These findings suggest that different types of play evolved independently and their combination is a secondarily evolved, derived state

Aggression · Biology · Biting · Evolutionary biology · Gene · Phylogenetic tree · Zoology · Communication · Computer Science · Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation · Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior · Primate Behavior and Ecology · Psychology · Social Psychology · Ecology · Genetics

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