Red-bellied lemurs maintain gut health through touching and 'huddling' each other

(University of Oxford) Scientists have found a direct link between physical contact and gut bacteria in red-bellied lemurs. Likely passed through 'huddling' behavior and touch, the findings suggest implications for human health.The University of Oxford worked with scientists from several universities, including the University of Arizona, on the research, published today in the Journal of Animal Ecology, to better understand causes of diversity within the animal's gut microbiome, the community of various bacteria that live inside the intestine.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2ii6ee7