Evidence of Placentophagia and Mother-Infant Cannibalism in Free-Ranging Macaca mulatta tcheliensis in Mount Taihangshan, Jiyuan, China

Tian, Jundong; Zhang, Shiqiang; Guo, Yongman; Garber, Paul A.; Guo, Wei-Jie; Kuang, San''ao; Lu, Jiqi

doi:10.1159/000455845

Cited by 19 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Inexperienced Japanese macaque mothers have been observed to inadvertently drown their infants when diving into the hot springs of Jigokudani Park for food (de Waal, ) and similar occurrences have been reported among baboons (Cheney & Seyfarth, ). Moreover, filial cannibalism during post‐mortem carrying has also been witnessed, suggesting that corpses may be re‐categorised as food (Altmann, ; Hsiang‐Jen & Hsiu‐Hui, ; Dellatore, Waitt & Foitova, ; Watson et al , ; Tian et al , ; Tokuyama et al , ; De Marco, Cozzolino & Thierry, ; Watson & Matsuzawa, ).…”

Section: Primate Thanatology: Contemporary Reportsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Death among primates: a critical review of non‐human primate interactions towards their dead and dying

2019

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For the past two centuries, non-human primates have been reported to inspect, protect, retrieve, carry or drag the dead bodies of their conspecifics and, for nearly the same amount of time, sparse scientific attention has been paid to such behaviours. Given that there exists a considerable gap in the fossil and archaeological record concerning how early hominins might have interacted with their dead, extant primates may provide valuable insight into how and in which contexts thanatological behaviours would have occurred. First, we outline a comprehensive history of comparative thanatology in non-human primates, from the earliest accounts to the present, uncovering the interpretations of previous researchers and their contributions to the field of primate thanatology. Many of the typical behavioural patterns towards the dead seen in the past are consistent with those observed today. Second, we review recent evidence of thanatological responses and organise it into distinct terminologies: direct interactions (physical contact with the corpse) and secondary interactions (guarding the corpse, vigils and visitations). Third, we provide a critical evaluation regarding the form and function of the behavioural and emotional aspects of these responses towards infants and adults, also comparing them with non-conspecifics. We suggest that thanatological interactions: promote a faster re-categorisation from living to dead, decrease costly vigilant/caregiving behaviours, are crucial to the management of grieving responses, update position in the group's hierarchy, and accelerate the formation of new social bonds. Fourth, we propose an integrated model of Life-Death Awareness, whereupon neural circuitry dedicated towards detecting life, i.e. the agency system (animate agency, intentional agency, mentalistic agency) works with a corresponding system that interacts with it on a decision-making level (animate/inanimate distinction, living/dead discrimination, death awareness). Theoretically, both systems are governed by specific cognitive mechanisms (perceptual categories, associative concepts and high-order reasoning, respectively). Fifth, we present an evolutionary timeline from rudimentary thanatological responses likely occurring in earlier non-human primates during the Eocene to the more elaborate mortuary practices attributed to genus Homo throughout the Pleistocene. Finally, we discuss the importance of detailed reports on primate thanatology and propose several empirical avenues to shed further light on this topic. This review expands and builds upon previous attempts to evaluate the body of knowledge on this subject, providing an integrative perspective and bringing together different fields of research to detail the evolutionary, sensory/cognitive, developmental and historical/archaeological aspects of primate thanatology. Considering all these findings and given their cognitive abilities, we argue that non-human primates are capable of an implicit awareness of death.

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Section: Primate Thanatology: Contemporary Reportsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Death among primates: a critical review of non‐human primate interactions towards their dead and dying

2019

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“…Placentophagia has been thoroughly studied, primarily in mice ( Peromyscus californicus ) [ 9 ], hamsters ( Phodopus campbelli ) [ 10 ], rats ( Mus musculus ) [ 11 ], rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) [ 12 , 13 ], ungulates [ 14 , 15 ], and carnivores [ 16 ], and regularly occurs in all nonhuman primate species [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. In contrast, it is assumed that traditionally, women did not carry out this practice for socio-cultural reasons.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumption of Maternal Placenta in Humans and Nonhuman Mammals: Beneficial and Adverse Effects

Mota-Rojas

Orihuela

Strappini

et al. 2020

Animals

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Placentophagia is a common mammalian behavior, and the first scientific study of the potential effects of human maternal placentophagia on lactation was in 1917. More recently, in the 1970s, human placentophagia was reported in North America with a trend toward increased consumption. There are different hypotheses about the women and nonhuman mammals’ motivation towards placentophagia, but few have been subject to hypotheses testing. In women, the controversy continues; on the one hand, researchers attribute benefits like increased breast milk, weight gain in newborns, decreased postpartum depression and fatigue, and improved mothers’ mood. In contrast, bacterial or viral infections, hormonal, or trace elements that could become toxic for both the mother and baby are reported as possible health risks. Other reports argue a lack of scientific rigor to support the self-reported benefits of placentophagia. Also, the way the placenta is prepared (raw, cooked, dehydrated, processed, or encapsulated) alters its components, and thus the desired effects. This review provides relevant information and the different hypotheses and points of view around placentophagia. However, there are still questions to be resolved, and more studies are needed to confirm or reject the data generated so far about placentophagia in humans and nonhuman mammals.

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“…the reported cases of infant cannibalism involved infanticide, while maternal cannibalism of deceased infants is the next most common context (Tian et al, 2016).…”

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confidence: 99%

Infant cannibalism in wild white‐faced capuchin monkeys

Nishikawa

Ferrero

Cheves

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Evidence of Placentophagia and Mother-Infant Cannibalism in Free-Ranging Macaca mulatta tcheliensis in Mount Taihangshan, Jiyuan, China

Cited by 19 publications

References 61 publications

Death among primates: a critical review of non‐human primate interactions towards their dead and dying

Death among primates: a critical review of non‐human primate interactions towards their dead and dying

Consumption of Maternal Placenta in Humans and Nonhuman Mammals: Beneficial and Adverse Effects

Infant cannibalism in wild white‐faced capuchin monkeys

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