We Are All Primates

Toque Macaques, Sri Lanka

This is a picture that I was delighted to get - nice light, a lovely composition, and a captured moment of social behavior.  I don't know, but I think this is two young males rather than a male/female pair. I am also guessing that this is a dominance display and that the guy on the right is top dog (er...top macaque) and the one on the left is required by protocol to...  I'm not sure what.

One of the most wonderful things about watching primates is the window it provides onto our own behavior. It is always fascinating to see how macaques like these jockey for position and status using rituals such as these. And it is intriguing - and irresistible - to speculate on what the analogous human behavior might be:

Checking out each other's job titles?
Fighting over the restaurant bill?
Flattering your boss?

The picture may be a little too graphic to be published widely, but I'm glad I took it anyhow!  At the very least, it makes me laugh...

Nikon D3, 70-200mm VR lens