Live Science Plus
What the Heck Is This?
Some people let it all hang out. So do some animals.
Not sure what this is? Bet you can at least get close with a guess.
It's a couple orangutans smooching. You can see the full image below. These primates actually do many things that humans do, which is why they were for so long so popular in Hollywood. Did you know orangutans can whistle? They can even play charades, using gestures to get a point across. They're also one of several animals — including dolphins and elephants — that use tools.
Some scientists say orangutans, not chimps, may be human's closest relatives.
I don't know why other primates kiss, but scientists say one reason why humans kiss is that, evolutionarily speaking, we can learn a lot about a potential mate from the mouth and nose — saliva and breath carry clues we don't want to miss about a person's fitness for making and nurturing offspring.
Got a strange or interesting photo related to science, nature or technology? What the Heck, send it to me and maybe I'll use it. And you follow me on Twitter or Facebook.
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Robert is an independent health and science journalist and writer based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a former editor-in-chief of Live Science with over 20 years of experience as a reporter and editor. He has worked on websites such as Space.com and Tom's Guide, and is a contributor on Medium, covering how we age and how to optimize the mind and body through time. He has a journalism degree from Humboldt State University in California.