Why do monkeys eat each others parasites?

Question

It's really good to be social but why the heck do they kill the parasites by picking them and eating them, XD does it satisfy them when they kill their parasites by chewing them? R\evenge? or do they like the taste of the blood? or do they lack in motor skills to squash the parasites with their finger nails? What are those any way? Ticks, Fleas, Lice? Any picture of a close up on what they are eating? I'm really curious about this... Thanks

Answer 1

The monkeys get protien from the parasites, and they strengthen social bonds.

Also the parasites do not cause harm to the monkeys because they get eaten by the monkeys

Answer 2

It is good useful protein. They must taste good as well, if you are a monkey, at least.

They are also picking salt out of the fur and eating it. Mmmm... salted ticks!

Grooming is a really important social activity among most social animals, it helps to strengthen the bonds between them and identify who's who in the pecking order. I have done some work with researchers who are interested in how human grooming works, or perhaps how it used to work in the distant past when we didn't wear clothes and we weren't so hung up about our personal space.