Source: exeter.ac.uk
It makes evolutionary sense for long-lived animals to have complex social relationships – such as friends and enemies – researchers say.
Some species and individuals focus their energy on reproduction (live fast, die young), while “slow-living” animals prioritise survival and tend to live longer lives.
In the new paper, University of Exeter scientists argue that natural selection favours complex social structures among slow-living animals – meaning that knowing their friends and enemies is easier for animals with longer lifespans, and helps them live even longer. MORE
Header image: Dave Hudson.
