Studying mammals: The social climbers

This course focuses on anthropoid primates, especially monkeys, and the relationships between perception, communication and social life. Group size, collaboration, hierarchy and the brain are examined in a structured reading sequence. It connects behaviour with evolutionary and ecological context rather than presenting isolated animal anecdotes as sufficient scientific evidence.

What you will learn

• Compare primate communication and perception
• Review group-living and social-dynamics concepts
• Connect intelligence with ecological and social context

Who this suits

A fit for an introductory natural-history learner interested in primate behaviour and willing to work through reading and activities rather than expecting a wildlife-handling course.

Before you enroll

OpenLearn lists ten hours of study and introductory level. This is an older academic course within a mammal-study series, so newer research may extend its examples. It provides a free participation statement rather than academic credit or professional certification. The full series is not counted again in this batch.

OpenLearn provides the course materials free. An account is needed to track progress and obtain the free statement of participation. This record is not university credit or a professional certificate; check the current participation requirements on the course page.

Put it into practice

Summarize one connection between social behaviour and the environment from the course. Identify the supporting observation and distinguish it from a broader evolutionary explanation that would require additional evidence.

Source and review

This overview is based on the provider's published information, checked on 13 October 2026. It is an editorial assessment, not a claim that we completed the resource. Time filters are approximate study ranges; projects and exercises can take longer.

Official course page, structured curriculum, workload, access and completion terms reviewed. Study workload includes reading, activities and assessments rather than video alone.

View the curriculum and current access options at OpenLearn.

How YellowCourse describes and checks learning resources.