Female crested gibbons display jerky, almost geometric patterns of movement. Researchers have studied these conspicuous movements, which are comparable to human dances. They describe the structure of the dances, their rhythm and the contexts in which the dances occur.
Female crested gibbons display jerky, almost geometric patterns of movement. Researchers from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf , Oslo in Norway and Paris have studied these conspicuous movements, which are comparable to human dances. In the scientific journal Primates, they describe the structure of the dances, their rhythm and the contexts in which the dances occur.
Crested gibbons belong to the family of small apes. There has been little scientific interest in this special display to date. Dr Kai R. Caspar from the Institute of Cell Biology at HHU, Dr Camille Coye from the Institut Jean Nicod in Paris and Professor Dr Pritty Patel-Grosz from the University of Oslo in Norway have now analysed this striking behaviour of the gibbons in more detail and present their results in the journal Primates.
Professor Patel-Grosz:"Only sexually mature females dance. Within species, the dances are evidently primarily used to solicit copulation, but they also occur in a wide range of situations related to non-sexual arousal or frustration and are also frequently directed at humans when performed in captivity in zoos."
The researchers can see similarities between crested gibbon and human dances, but presume that they evolved independently of each other. This conclusion is based among other things on the fact that other species of apes do not display this type of behaviour. Furthermore, gibbon dances are also likely to be innate, while human dance is primarily determined by culture. Human dance is also frequently accompanied by music or song, while this is never the case with gibbons.
Mating And Breeding Animal Learning And Intelligence Nature
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Researchers determine female gibbons dance for attentionA trio of researchers, one a zoologist, another a primatologist and the third a linguistics professor, from Institut Jean Nicod, Heinrich Heine University and the University of Oslo, respectively, have discovered that female gibbons engage in a strange type of robotic dancing.
Read more »
From Poetry to Dance Dance Revolution: How a Climate Book Tour is Taking ActionMargaret Atwood's new book 'This Burning Earth' is more than just words on a page. It’s a call to action, an invitation to fight climate change through art, conversations, essays, poetry, and more. To match the unconventional nature of the book, its tour will be equally as multifaceted, entertaining, and action-focused.
Read more »
3 dead following 4-vehicle collision on California freewayA female driver of a Toyota Corolla and two female passengers died at the scene.
Read more »
Getting autism right | ScienceDailyContrary to common perceptions and years of research that autistic people can't describe their emotions or often have muted emotional responses, a new study concludes that many autistic adults are in fact acutely aware of their feelings and can label them in vivid, often colorful detail.
Read more »
CREME AI and CRISPR in tandem | ScienceDailyCREME is a virtual laboratory that allows scientists to simulate specific decreases in gene activity. It offers a powerful new tool for identifying and understanding important parts of the genome. And it could one day give scientists who don't have access to real laboratories the power to make breakthrough discoveries.
Read more »
Tougher concrete, inspired by bone | ScienceDailyResearchers used robotics and additive manufacturing to toughen cement-based material with precisely placed hollow tubes. The result is more than 5 times tougher than counterparts.
Read more »