Let’s consider the origin of human bedding. Humans are classified as primates, but where do other biologically similar species rest?
There are some monkeys that build nests and some that don’t. Let’s take a look at them together.
Bedding and intelligence
There is a theory that the cognitive abilities of hominids were facilitated by the creation of beddings, which led to them sleeping on the ground and leading to the evolution into humans. Hominids, which lacked many physical defenses, developed skills and wisdom to survive.
Primates (Primata) are the monkey species, but compared to carnivorous mammals, their fangs and claws are less developed. This makes it difficult for them to fight back when attacked and makes them more likely to become prey. Therefore, they have lived in trees, and they have lived in groups helping each other, especially on the ground.
Beddings of Hominid
The hominid family, which includes humans (the genus Homo), chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans, build beddings to rest during the day and at night. The nesting behaviour is thought to be learned from surrounding individuals rather than an innate instinct.
Humankind (the genus Homo):
The first humans to descend to earth lived in caves, and eventually structures such as huts were built. However, roofs did not appear immediately, and were only meant to protect against the wind. A variety of materials were used for the beddings, including clay, stone, and wood. It’s possible that ancient humans slept in houses with simple structures like this until approximately 40,000 years ago.
Chimpanzee:
Females weigh 47 kg and males 60 kg. Lifespan is approximately 30 years. It performs a quadrupedal gait called knuckle-walking. They live in tropical rainforests, mountain forests, and savannahs of Africa, and are omnivorous, eating a variety of things such as leaves, fruits and insects.
It’s thought that the Subtribe Panina (chimpanzee subtribe) branch diverged from the same ancestor as the genus Homo approximately 7 million years ago.
Chimpanzees make their night beddings on trees at a height of 1 to 45 metres. They create a base with stable branches and cover it with soft leaves to make it comfortable. Other than that, they sometimes make simple beddings on the ground or on trees for napping. Depending on regions, a bedding for sleeping at night may also be built on the ground.
Chimpanzees live in groups, and often have multiple beddings concentrated nearby. Males tend to stay in their natal group, while females move to other groups when they reach maturity. At most, over 100 males and females live in herds, sometimes gathering together or separating. Although they have a charming appearance, they have a ferocious side as well, and conflicts may occur between individuals.
Gorilla:
Gorillas are the largest primates, with females weighing up to 100 kg and males up to 180 kg. A newborn baby weighs 1.8 kg, which is slightly smaller than a human. Lifespan is approximately 30 years. They live in the dense forests and jungles of Africa and perform a quadrupedal gait known as knuckle-walking. Although they have the impression of being ferocious, they are usually very docile, except during the breeding season. The leopard is its natural enemy.
It’s thought that the Tribe Gorillini (gorilla) branch diverged from the same ancestor as the genus Homo approximately 10 million years ago.
They tend to live in herds led by a dominant male along with females. However, gorilla societies are highly diverse, and sometimes herds may be with multiple males and females in addition to the boss, herds consist only of males, or a male may live alone. Herds generally range from 5 to 10 individuals, but can range from 2 to 50 individuals.
They are diurnal and tend to make their beddings on trees 2 to 3 metres above the ground by intertwining branches and leaves. The size of the bedding is approximately 30 to 150 cm. It has a sturdy structure that can support a heavy gorilla. Gorillas can sometimes sleep for 12 hours straight.
In addition, they may collect grass and leaves to make beddings on the ground. The structures used to take a short break during the day are simple, but the beddings used for sleeping at night are sturdy. It’s basically 1 bedding per 1 individual. However, they stay in the same nest with their mother until they are approximately 3 years old. Females and their young rest in trees, but are often on the ground during the day. Males are mostly on the ground.
Because gorillas are nomadic, they never use the same bedding again. In other words, they make beddings every day. As a result, they are always sleeping on clean beddings.
Orangutan:
Females weigh up to 50 kg and males up to 90 kg. Lifespan is approximately 30 years. They perform a quadrupedal gait, but do not knuckle-walk. They are omnivorous, eating leaves, insects and small mammals. Natural enemies include the Sumatran tiger, clouded leopard, dhole, and crocodile.
It’s thought that they diverged into the Subfamily Ponginae (orangutan subfamily) approximately 14 million years ago from the same ancestor as the genus Homo.
They live in the tropical regions of Indonesia and Malaysia. Mothers and babies live together, but other individuals are mostly solitary. However, they seem to be aware of where each other is in the forest and keep a reasonable distance. It’s thought that this is because the food resources that each individual can obtain are limited when there are many individuals in the same place. In fact, multiple individuals can be seen eating fruits from the same tree in areas where and in seasons when food is plentiful.
Orangutans live almost entirely in trees. The forelimbs are 1.5 times longer than the hind limbs and are adapted for climbing trees.
Orangutan mothers and their children spend around 7 years together, which is the longest period of time for any primate other than humans. Then, they start living independently by the time a younger sister or younger brother is born.
Orangutans make separate beddings for the day and night. Baby orangutans learn how to make their own beddings by watching their mothers build structures. They begin practicing when they are about 6 months old, and by the age of 3 they have acquired such proficiency that they can leave their mother and build their own beddings.
Orangutans pull branches together to form the basis of their bedding. They gather small leafy branches on top of it to soften up. They weave branches into it to increase its strength. Then collect the branches with leaves and use them as a pillow. Branches with large leaves may also be used as coverlets. They may build a roof over the bedding or create an extra bedding to use as a bunk bed. Orangutan beddings are surprisingly multifunctional.
Nests of Prosimians
Among the prosimians, some build nests and some don’t.
Unlike hominids, which learn how to make their own beddings, prosimians instinctively build nests for purposes such as breeding.
Among the lemurs that live on the island of Madagascar, females of small species such as the mouse lemur and the giant mouse lemur collect leaves and build nests before giving birth. The main purpose of the nest is to protect the young from predators. The carpet of leaves also plays a role in regulating body temperature. During the breeding season, males are known to visit the nests of as many as 7 females at the same period.
Among the mouse lemurs, some live in groups of approximately 15 individuals led by a female boss, and they live mainly in trees. They are nocturnal, sleeping in nests high up in trees during the day and eating insects, flowers, fruits, etc. at night. During the dry season, the female lies dormant in a hole in a tree for approximately 6 months, surviving on fat stored in her tail and hind legs.
Ruffed lemurs build nests using nearby branches, leaves and vines, and may even use their own body hair. They are diurnal and live in groups of 2 to 5, sometimes as many as 16. After giving birth to 2 cubs, the mother leaves the cubs in the nest and goes out to feed, but 1 to 2 weeks after birth, they begin to move together. However, when the mother is feeding, the babies are left on the tree and often fall accidentally, so the survival probability for the first three months is approximately one-third.
Among the lemurs, larger species such as the Verreaux’s sifaka and ring-tailed lemur do not build nests, and their young spend their time clinging to their mother’s body.
The aye-aye, living in Madagascar, weighs 2-3 kg and weighs only 0.1 kg at birth. They are nocturnal and build oval nests made of branches and vines in trees 7 to 20 meters high, where they rest during the day. Nests are frequently changed and built again. Sometimes another aye-aye takes up residence in the empty nest. Research shows that 8 aye-ayes built nests in 100 different locations over a 2-year period.
In the genus Galago, the mother gives birth to 2 babies, hides them in a nest or tree hollow with leaves, and goes out at night to feed. Some Galago species share nests where they nap during the day with multiple females, and sometimes males visit as well.
Building nests makes breeding more efficient
Looking across the while primates, studies have shown that species that do not build nests are always with their young and require more effort to raise their offspring. As a result, they reproduce at a slower pace than species that build nests.
Over the years, different species of primates appear to have developed and learned different habits related to bedding.
Then, for us humans living today, homes and beddings have become indispensable.
Traditional society background of Japan, where beds didn’t become common
What is the difference between Futon and Bed? Comparison of Japanese and Western beddings
What is Futon? Magical and freely foldable bedding
What is Kaimaki? The origin of Japanese bedding culture
What is Mushiro? Rug passed down from time immemorial
Author: Takuya Nagata. Amazon Profile
Follow @nagatackleA novel writer and creator. Graduated from UCA, the UK’s university. Discussed Japanese minimalism in the senior thesis. Founder of “MINIRISM” (minirism), the art movement that contributes to the development of societies, such as ecology and lifestyle. Later opened the knowledge hub “The Minimalist.”
Once travelled to Brazil and trained football at CFZ do Rio (Centro de Futebol Zico Sociedade Esportiva) in Rio de Janeiro. Played soccer for the Urawa Reds (Urawa Red Diamonds), one of the biggest football clubs in Japan, and toured Europe. Retired at a young age and voyaged alone to England. Established careers as a journalist, football coach, consultant, etc. across Europe such as Spain. The founder of “Propulsive Football” (PROBALL), the world’s first-ever competitive mixed football, facilitating diversity and spirit for equal participation in society.
Knowledgeable in creative and technology fields as well. Launched the SPACE Culture & Entertainment hub “The Space-Timer 0.”
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