Chimps Can Match Mothers to Sons but Not to Daughters, Report Suggests

Chimpanzees can match mothers to sons purely on the basis of familial resemblance. Yet, surprisingly, the chimps perceived no more resemblance between mothers and daughters than between unrelated individuals, researchers reported today in Nature.

The Atlanta researchers tested the chimps’ ability to recognize black and white photos of such family pairings.

They concluded that this skill might help in chimpanzee society, in which males ally and undertake great risks for one another. Additionally, a migrating female could recognize--and avoid breeding with--males who look like her mother.