Arlet et al. (2025) proposes a framework to study primate thanatology, addressing the need for standardized methods. It emphasizes individual responses to conspecific death using clear behavioral variables.
Link: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...

#PrimateThanatology #EvolutionaryThanatology

New paper by Munyawera et al. (2025) analyzes 141 infant deaths over 21.7 years of observation in mountain gorillas.60.5% of mothers engage in infant corpse carrying (ICC), with an average duration of 4.9 days.
Link: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

#PrimateThanatology #deadinfantcarrying

Attademo et al. report 25 years of parental & epimeletic behavior in captive manatees. Findings reveal complex maternal care, cooperative female caregiving, adoption of orphaned calves, and care toward deceased calves by two females and a male. Link: doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...
#comparativethanatology

Kotik & Towers document the rare, closely witnessed decline and final hours of adult male orca whale , including interactions with Pacific white-sided dolphins, humpbacks, and the attentive presence of his kin.
Access link here: doi.org/10.1111/mms....
#epimeleticbehaviour #comparativethanatology

Van Oosten et al. (2025) review how signs of depression appear in primates, proposing diagnostic criteria requiring a core symptom (depressed mood or anhedonia). Several signs occur naturally, often after maternal loss or social separation. Link: peerj.com/articles/187...
#animalgrief #depression

Benjamin et al. report a group of Bryde’s whales repeatedly surfacing, circling, and closely inspecting a deceased adult pod member over several days, marking the first documented case of such thanatological responses in these baleen whales. Link: doi.org/10.20944/pre...
#epimeleticbehavior

Tong et al. show that losing a pair-bonded partner alters CRF receptor levels in the coyote brain, in olfactory, hippocampal, and amygdala regions, highlighting neurobiological effects of grief in long-lived monogamous mammals. Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
#animalgrief #postmortembrainmapping

Chen et al. report thanatological responses in black snub-nosed monkeys, including revisiting and guarding deceased companions, alarm calls, and social partner hugging, alongside some scavenging by local carnivores. Access paper here: doi.org/10.1002/ajp....

#primatethanatology #cameratraps

Sun et al. show that mice exhibit reviving-like behaviors toward unconscious or dead conspecifics, escalating from sniffing to licking and tongue-pulling, which can aid recovery and are driven by oxytocin. Open-access paper here: doi.org/10.1126/scie...

#comparativethanatology #epimeleticbehavior

Ricci-Bonot et al. report that horses show grief-like behavioral changes after the death of a conspecific: altered interactions, arousal, and vigilance, persisting for month when bonds were strong or death was witnessed. Paper here: doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...

#comparativethanatology #animalgrief

Delval et al. report a primiparous capuchin mother carrying and caring for her dead infant, maintaining contact most of the time while other group members observed, suggesting coping strategies in response to the loss. Paper here: doi.org/10.1007/s103...

#primatethanatology #deadinfantcarrying

Nakamichi & Yamada observed Japanese macaques’ reactions to dying and dead adult companions.Most avoided individuals with maggots, but others with strong social bonds sometimes remained nearby/groomed the deceased. Open-access paper here: doi.org/10.1007/s103...
#comparativethanatology #socialbonds

Bersacola et al. used camera traps to document infant corpse carrying (ICC) in multiple unhabituated chimpanzee populations, with carrying durations up to 28 days. Showing camera traps as a great tool for studying rare behaviors: doi.org/10.1002/ece3...

#comparativethanatology #deadinfantcarrying

Hudson & Watt observed wild beluga whales’ reactions to a dead calf, documenting up to 16 individuals exhibiting approaching and remaining near the carcass. Full article here: doi.org/10.1111/mms....

#comparativethanatology #epimeleticbehavior

Sperou et al. document rare postmortem attentive behavior in leopard seals, including a female that cared for her deceased pup for up to 20 days — the longest case recorded in pinnipeds. Full article: doi.org/10.1007/s003...

#comparativethanatology #epimeleticbehavior

Johnson et al. show that bereaved rhesus macaque mothers spent less time resting than non-bereaved controls after their infants’ deaths, contrary to predictions of reduced activity or lethargy. Full open-access study here: doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...

#comparativethanatology #animalgrief