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A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants
Published on: October 12, 2018
Chimpanzees prey on army ants with specialized tool set.
Crickette M Sanz1, Caspar Schöning, David B Morgan
1Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany. csanz@artsci.wustl.edu
American Journal of Primatology
|September 5, 2009
Summary
Chimpanzees in the Goualougo Triangle use a unique two-tool set to access Dorylus army ants. This specialized ant predation behavior involves a sapling to open nests and a herb stem for harvesting ants.
Area of Science:
- Primate behavior
- Ethology
- Tool use in animals
Background:
- Chimpanzees are known to prey on Dorylus army ants.
- Tool use for ant extraction typically involves single "dipping" probes.
- Tool length often correlates with ant species aggressiveness and lifestyle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report and analyze a novel tool set used by chimpanzees for army ant predation.
- To investigate the specific techniques and tools employed in the Goualougo Triangle.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1,060 tools recovered from ant predation sites.
- Collection and review of 25 video recordings of chimpanzee tool-using behavior.
- Distinguishing tool types based on form and function.
Main Results:
- Chimpanzees utilized a two-tool system: a woody sapling to perforate nests and a herb stem to harvest ants.
- This represents the first documented instance of such a regular and widespread use of a multi-tool set for Dorylus ant predation.
- The observed tool set is distinct from other known chimpanzee tool combinations for termites or honey.
Conclusions:
- Goualougo chimpanzees exhibit a specialized army ant predation technology involving a unique two-tool set.
- This method includes an innovative step of using an additional tool specifically for nest perforation.
- Further research is required to understand the ecological and social drivers behind this specialized technology.
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