"By hand clapping, it appears the female gorillas alert others in their group to possible threat or alarm so that the silverback may come to their aid, or if they are already together, they can maintain group cohesiveness in case of pending danger," Kalan explained. Primatologist Joanne Tanner, who studies gestural communication, theorizes pregnant and nursing females are more sensitive to chest beating, so they may have devised the hand clapping technique as a less painful substitute for the Tarzan-like behavior. Tanner told Discovery News that the new findings are important because they confirm "clapping is a common gesture of gorillas in their native settings, not just in zoos." Kalan, however, notes that eastern gorillas, such as Gorilla beringei, in Africa do not seem to clap in such a fashion. This suggests hand clapping could be a gestural culture found only in western lowland gorillas. Corri Waitt of the Animal Behavior Research Group at the University of Oxford informed Discovery News that this "fascinating" new research could help to demystify the evolution of human communication. "Many researchers believe that gestural communication in apes was the precursor to human language, and that our ancestors had a rich repertoire of hand and arm gestures they used to transmit information to one another," said Waitt. Related Links: Jennifer Viegas' Blog: Born Animal Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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