Pestle-pounding behavior of wild chimpanzees at Bossou,Guinea: A newly observed tool-using behavior |
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Authors: | Gen Yamakoshi Yukimaru Sugiyama |
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Institution: | (1) Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kanrin, Inuyama, 484 Aichi, Japan |
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Abstract: | A new type of tool-using behavior was observed in a group of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) at Bossou, Guinea. The chimpanzees used the leaf-petiole of oil-palm trees (Elaeis guineensis) as a pounding tool to deepen a hole in the oil-palm crown which appeared after the chimpanzees had pulled out the central
young shoots. Finally, the chimpanzees extracted and ate the apical meristem or apical bud of the oil-palm tree which is edible
but inaccessible without such tool use. The motor pattern which the chimpanzees employed is similar to that used for termite-nest
digging but it is more exaggerated and requires great force. The behavior is reminiscent of pestlepounding. The chimpanzees
exploit substantial amounts of food with this tool-using skill, compensating for insufficient fruit foods in the primary forest.
This tool-using behavior was first observed in 1990 and, to date, almost half of the group members have been confirmed to
use the pestle tool. It appears that this tool-using behavior was invented recently and has since spread widely throughout
the group as a habitual one. |
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Keywords: | Chimpanzees Pestle-pounding Oil-palm Tool use Nutritional compensation |
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