Dialects in leaf-clipping and other leaf-modifying gestures between neighbouring communities of East African chimpanzees.

ABSTRACT: Dialects are a cultural property of animal communication previously described in the signals of several animal species. While dialects have predominantly been described in vocal signals, chimpanzee leaf-clipping and other 'leaf-modifying' gestures, used across chimpanzee and bonobo communities, have been suggested as a candidate for cultural variation in gestural communication. Here we combine direct observation with archaeological techniques to compare the form and use of leaf-modifying gestures in two neighbouring communities of East African chimpanzees. We found that while both communities used multiple forms, primarily within sexual solicitation, they showed a strong preference for a single, different gesture form. The observed variation in form preference between these neighbouring co

SUBMITTER: Badihi G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9814361 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature