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Ancient Kissing Predates Humans, Found in Apes

11/24/2025

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Story summary
  • Matilda Brindle, Catherine F. Talbot, and Stuart West, the study authors, report, in the Journal of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society, that the world's first kiss occurred between 21.5 and 16.9 million years ago, predating humans.
  • Researchers define kissing as oral-oral contact without food transfer.
  • They found kissing in apes and monkeys, implying an ancient trait.
  • They call for research into kissing's link to sexual selection.