Pointing and pantomime in wild apes? Female bonobos use referential and iconic gestures to request genito-genital rubbing.

ABSTRACT: Referential and iconic gesturing provide a means to flexibly and intentionally share information about specific entities, locations, or goals. The extent to which nonhuman primates use such gestures is therefore of special interest for understanding the evolution of human language. Here, we describe novel observations of wild female bonobos (Pan paniscus) using referential and potentially iconic gestures to initiate genito-genital (GG) rubbing, which serves important functions in reducing social tension and facilitating cooperation. We collected data from a habituated community of bonobos at Luikotale, DRC, and analysed n = 138 independent gesture bouts made by n = 11 females. Gestures were coded in real time or from video. In addition to meeting the criteria for intentionality, in form an

SUBMITTER: Douglas PH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4642555 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature