Japanese macaques are famous for soaking in hot springs during winter, but new research suggests this behavior may serve purposes beyond staying warm.

L ike humans, some other primates like to huddle in hot springs. Japanese macaques ( Macaca fuscata ), also called “snow monkeys,” famously gather at natural hot springs to soak together for hours.

Japanese macaques, colloquially referred to as snow monkeys, famously soak in steaming hot springs during winter. It's easy to see that this helps them stay warm in cold temperatures, but a team of ...