Kissing is commonly seen as an expression of love and affection in humans. But do our ape cousins like gorillas also kiss? The answer is yes, gorillas do kiss! However, gorilla kisses serve a different purpose than human kisses.
Why do gorillas kiss?
Unlike humans who kiss to express romantic feelings, gorillas kiss for other reasons like:
Greeting
Gorillas may give quick kisses on the mouth when greeting each other. A light peck as hello is an affiliative behavior to strengthen social bonds.
Reassurance
When a gorilla is upset, another gorilla may give them a kiss on the mouth to offer reassurance and comfort. Kissing helps calm distressed gorillas.
Playing
Young gorillas especially will engage in kissing as part of play. Juvenile gorillas will kiss each other on the mouth in a playful manner.
Social bonding
Kissing between parent and child gorillas helps reinforce social connections. Infant gorillas need constant reassurance so they frequently kiss their mothers.
What do gorilla kisses look like?
Gorilla kisses are fleeting and close-mouthed. They involve lightly pressing the lips together for a few seconds. Some key features of gorilla kissing include:
Quick pecks
Gorilla kisses only last 1-2 seconds. Their kisses are very brief.
Subtle
You may miss a gorilla kiss if you blink. Gorilla kisses are subtle and easy to overlook.
Dry lips
Unlike human wet kisses, gorilla kisses are dry with just a brief touching of lips.
Minimal movement
Their mouths barely move during the peck. Gorilla kisses involve minimal lip motion.
How often do gorillas kiss?
The frequency of gorilla kisses varies between groups. Some key factors that influence kissing rates:
Group size
Larger gorilla groups demonstrate higher rates of kissing. More gorillas leads to more kissing opportunities.
Gender
Female gorillas tend to kiss other group members at higher rates than males.
Age
Younger gorillas kiss more often. Infants and juveniles exhibit the highest kissing frequency.
Relationships
Closely bonded gorillas kiss each other more frequently. Mothers may kiss infants dozens of times per hour.
Personality
Individual gorilla personality plays a role. More affectionate gorillas kiss at higher rates.
Do all gorillas kiss?
Virtually all gorillas have been observed engaging in kissing behaviors. However, some individual variations exist:
| Gorilla | Kissing Behavior |
|---|---|
| Infants | Kiss mothers frequently for reassurance |
| Juveniles | High rates of playful kissing |
| Adult females | Kiss infants and juveniles more often |
| Adult males | Lower rates of kissing overall |
| Solitary males | Very little kissing since less social |
| Anxious gorillas | May kiss for reassurance during stressful times |
So all gorillas kiss at some point, but some engage in more kissing based on age, gender, personality and social circumstances.
Why don’t gorillas kiss like humans?
There are a few key reasons gorilla kissing differs from intimate human kissing:
Mating system
Gorillas have a polygynous mating system where one male mates with multiple females. This decreases pair bonding compared to monogamous species.
Facial structure
Gorillas have pronounced snouts and large teeth that are less conducive to passionate French kissing.
Limited lip sensitivity
Gorillas have less sensitive lips with fewer nerve endings. Their lips convey less erotic sensation.
Grooming practices
Gorillas do not clean their teeth or use mouthwash frequently. Oral hygiene limitations likely deter lengthy kissing.
Social norms
Prolonged open-mouth kissing violates gorilla social norms. Their brief kisses suit their nonromantic social purposes.
How do gorilla kisses develop?
Kissing behaviors in gorillas change across infancy and maturity in the following ways:
0-2 years
– Infants kiss mother frequently for comfort
3-4 years
– Begin kissing other group members during play
5-7 years
– Increase kissing during energetic juvenile play sessions
8-10 years
– Adolescent gorillas start kissing less often as they mature
10+ years
– Adult gorillas demonstrate occasional kissing mostly for greeting or reassurance
So kissing peaks in infant and juvenile gorillas then decreases into adulthood. Young gorillas kiss the most as they develop social connections.
Conclusion
In conclusion, gorillas do kiss but not for romance like humans. Gorilla kisses are brief lip presses that strengthen social bonds, offer reassurance, show playfulness or greet others. Kissing is more common among juveniles and females. While all gorillas kiss, kissing behaviors decrease into mature adulthood. Understanding how gorillas kiss provides insight into their social dynamics.