Neanderthals and early humans probably kissed, say scientists

From Galápagos albatrosses to polar bears, chimpanzees to orangutans, certain species appear to kiss. Now researchers suggest Neanderthals did it too - and might even have locked lips with modern humans.

- Nicola Davis Science correspondent

Kissing is not limited to humans - polar bears can 'kiss' as a greeting

It is not the first time scientists have suggested Neanderthals and early modern humans were intimately acquainted. Researchers have previously found humans and their cousins shared the same mouth microbe for hundreds of thousands of years after the two species split, suggesting they swapped saliva.

Dr Matilda Brindle, an evolutionary biologist and the first author of the new study from the University of Oxford, said the work supported a simple explanation.