The first kiss may have occurred as early as 21 million years ago, according to a British study

The research, presented as the first study into the evolutionary history of kissing, appears in the British specialist journal “Evolution and Human Behavior”.

Scientists have found evidence that kissing on the mouth was a practice of great apes as early as 21 million years ago, according to a study from the British University of Oxford, published Wednesday, November 19. The research, presented as the first on the evolutionary history of kissing, appears in a specialist British journal. Evolution and Human Behavior.

Researchers first established the definition of kissing as “mouth to mouth contact that is non-aggressive and does not involve food transfer”. They collected data on primate species that have the habit of kissing, including chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans. Then, using a primate phylogenetic tree, they used a statistical approach to estimate the likelihood that a different ancestor was also skilled at this practice.

Their conclusion: the kiss “Ancient behavioral traits in great apes”emerged as a common ancestor between 16.9 and 21.5 million years ago. “Kissing has been preserved throughout evolution and still occurs in most great apes”added the researchers.

“By integrating evolutionary biology with behavioral data, we can draw conclusions about behavioral traits that are not fossilized, such as kissing”explains Stuart West, co-author and professor of evolutionary biology at Oxford.

Scientists also discovered that Neanderthals, who inhabited Eurasia until around 40,000 BC, lived together with Homo Sapiens before disappearing, had “Maybe they also kissed”.