New research in American Anthropologist finds that only 46% of cultures kiss mouth-to-mouth. The study contradicts previous anthropological research that found that kissing was universal behavior.

Charles Darwin, father of evolutionary biology, described kissing in 1872, by listing “kissing-like behaviors” in his book “The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals” that included rubbing noses and other related practises similar or perhaps preceeding mouth-to-mouth kissing.

Some anthropoligists believe that kissing is just a cultural phenomenon that is learnt behavior in modern communities . European-styled kisses are not required intimate activity a reproductive standpoint.

Anthropologist Donald Marshall descrbed people on the Pacific island of Mangala as the most sexually active culture on record. Men spent their late teens and 20s having an average of 21 orgasms per week – more than 1,000 times a year – without mouth-to-mouth kisses.