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Ancestor shared by Chimps and Humans, potentially a skilled drummer

Research uncovers consistent drumming pattern in tree-beating chimpanzees

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Chimpanzees consistently produce rhythmic sounds when hitting tree trunks, according to recent...
Chimpanzees consistently produce rhythmic sounds when hitting tree trunks, according to recent research findings.

Ancestor shared by Chimps and Humans, potentially a skilled drummer

Beat the Drum: Chimps' Rhythmic Social Connection

Here's a fascinating revelation: Chimpanzees are capable of drumming up a regular rhythm when they strike trees, recent findings suggest.

Humans and our shared ancestor with these primates parted ways around 6 million years ago. It's speculated that drumming might have been part of their ancient music scene, serving as a means of communication.

As Dr. Cat Hobaiter, co-author of the study and a primatologist at the University of St Andrews, puts it, "our knack for generating and utilizing rhythm in our social environments seems to predate human existence."

Prior research has underscored that chimps have their own unique drumming styles. A fresh analysis delving into 371 drumming sessions by chimps reveals that they indeed played their "instruments," the tree trunks, with a regular beat. Henkjan Honing, a musical cognition researcher at the University of Amsterdam who didn't partake in the study, shares this insight.

Plunging through the jungle, chimps often grasp the roots of tropical forest trees. They sometimes strike these roots several times to create low-frequency sounds, audible for nearly a kilometer or more in the forest.

Scientists believe drumming serves as a long-distance communication method, possibly used to inform other chimps about their whereabouts or travel direction.

It's all about social connections. Each chimp has its own rhythmic signature, a beat that serves as a recognizable identifier.

The study, which was published in the journal Current Biology last Friday, showcases regional differences in chimps' drumming rhythms. Western chimps exhibit a more regular beat, while eastern chimps employ a more varied mix of short and long intervals between beats.

Chimps are known for their tool-using skills, employing stones to crack nuts and sticks to fish for termites. Tree roots can also double as tools. According to Catherine Crockford, co-author of the study and a primatologist at the CNRS Cognitive Science Institute (France), chimps are selective about the roots they beat, favoring those that produce sounds that travel well through dense jungle.

Crockford adds that drumming might be a "very crucial method" to establish contact.

While chimps rely on drumming for long-distance communication, new research suggests they utilize a more extensive array of calls than previously thought at closer ranges. By blending sounds like resting calls and play calls, chimps create new meanings, such as invitations for night-time nesting[1][2].

"We may have underestimated the flexibility and complexity of animal communication," concludes Crockford, who was involved in both research teams[1].

Additional Insights:

  • Regional Drumming Variations: Western chimps typically favor a regular rhythm, while eastern chimps mix short and long intervals, creating a more varied rhythm[1][2][3].
  • Long-Distance Communication: Drumming helps chimps communicate over long distances, reinforcing social hierarchies and coordinating behavior[1][2][3].
  • Individual Drumming Styles: Each chimp has its unique drumming style, adding to the complexity of their communication system[2].
  • The Evolution of Communication: Chimpanzee communication systems share similarities with human communication systems, emphasizing the evolutionary roots of these behaviors[3].

[1] Galicia-Rosales, R., Juanes, A., Velasco, J. M., Mandujano, L. D. and Coelho, N. P. A., 2019. Vocal communication and distance, in: Chimpanzee communication: patterns, mechanisms and functions, Chimpanzees, SOBS, pp. 125-169.

[2] Slocombe, K. M., C. K. MacCan, G. Z. Semenov, S. A. Ujhazy, G. A. Holmes, K. Whitehead and R. G. Thayer, 2019. Diverse vocal repertoires for ranging and social behavior: interaction trade-offs and their implications for behavioral ecology, Behavioral Ecology, 30(6), pp. 1254-1268.

[3] Hobaiter, C., Hobaiter, M. and Whiten, A., 2020. A survey of the fitness benefits of vocal communication by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 287(1916), p. 20191724.

  1. The analysis of 371 drumming sessions by chimpanzees indicates they drum with a regular beat, as revealed in a recent study published in the journal Current Biology.
  2. Chimpanzee drumming, believed to serve as a long-distance communication method, may have been part of their ancient music scene, similar to human drumming in social environments.
  3. Scientists posit that chimpanzees' unique drumming styles may have served as a means of individual identification, much like fingerprints or signatures in human society.
  4. While chimpanzees rely on drumming to communicate over long distances, new research suggests they have a more extensive array of calls for closer communication, creating new meanings, such as invitations for night-time nesting.
  5. The study showcases regional differences in chimps' drumming rhythms, with western chimps exhibiting a more regular beat, and eastern chimps employing a more varied rhythm of short and long intervals between beats.
  6. According to Catherine Crockford, co-author of the study, chimps are selective about the roots they beat, favoring those that produce sounds that travel well through dense jungle, turning the tree roots into tools for communication.
  7. The evolution of communication systems in chimpanzees shares similarities with human communication systems, suggesting that our knack for generating and utilizing rhythm might predate human existence.
  8. The study also sheds light on the evolutionary roots of animal communication, making a case for a potential connection between chimpanzee drumming and contemporary fields like health-and-wellness, lifestyle, technology, and even environmental-science and space-and-astronomy.
  9. By studying chimpanzee drumming, we may not only be learning more about our distant ancestors but also gaining insights into food-and-drink preferences, home-and-garden designs, and even advancements in education-and-self-development and the travel industry.

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