It seems humans aren't the only species that like to eat things because of taste rather than nutrition, and would prefer to play than work.  A recent study published in Applied Animal Behavior Science has shown that many types of animals like to have a good time when it comes to food, playing, touch and sex.

The study revealed that humans aren't alone in pursuing certain activities purely for pleasure, with no direct survival goals, and also highlight that many of our so called 'guilty pleasure' are natural tendencies which we share with the rest of the animal kingdom, whether they are healthy or not.  Comfort eating, for example, is one such pleasure which may not be limited to the human race, as many animals eat for pure enjoyment, and will usually opt for foods that they prefer the taste of, rather than foods which offer a higher amount of nutrition.

Research also shows that some types of food can cause certain animals to release pleasure-producing opioids inside their bodies,  much like the chemicals produced in human bodies when we eat chocolate.

Language-trained animals such as parrots and apes have even been known to let their handlers and owners know what types of food they like and dislike.  Even more primitive animals such as reptiles will prefer delicious to nutritious.  It has been seen that Green iguanas would rather search high and low for their favourite meal of fresh, leafy lettuce, even when healthier reptile snacks are placed right in front of them.

Animals have also shown that they have a sense of physical pleasure and are happy to pursue it. Hippopotami enjoy bathing and refreshing themselves in freshwater springs. The animals get together to clean themselves and purposely spread their legs, splay their toes, and hold their mouths open to relax and enjoy the sensation the water gives them. In fact, they sometimes relax so much they have been known to fall asleep in the springs.

Over the centuries, many have tried to teach that any sex that is not for procreation is unnatural, unhealthy and in the case of strict religions, a 'sin'.  However humans aren't the only species to enjoy physical social contact for pleasure as animals also engage in sexual activity for fun.

In fact oral sex is high on the list of physical pleasures, with animals such as hyenas, various primates, manatees, bats, goats and sheep all engaging in felatio. Many animals aren't really fussy what the sex of their mate is either, as over 300 species engage in homosexual behavior. If a willing partner can't be found, it's not too much of a problem with some creatures, even certain birds, as they aren't shy about masturbating. If you ever see an animal that has gone blind, you may now know the reason!

Not all animals are selfish either, as some like to give as well as receive. Electric fish appear to get a kick out of giving each other stimulating charges, and dolphins use "low-pitched buzzing clicks" near their genitalia as a form of pleasuring each other.

When not eating or enjoying some 'hanky panky', animals also like to hang around and just play. Many species engage in playful activities which scientists often claim are training exercises to hone hunting skills, however there are many animals that display social behavior which appears to have no benefit other than recreation. The study pinpoints Herring gulls in Virginia, USA, which have been witnessed tossing clams and other tiny objects to each other in a form of playing catch, just for the fun of it.

Author of the research, Jonathan Balcombe says that the findings prove that animals experience pleasure on the same levels as humans, and hopes that this will encourage better treatment of domestic and wild animals.