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Related Experiment Videos

Tool use for corpse cleaning in chimpanzees.

Edwin J C van Leeuwen1,2, Katherine A Cronin3, Daniel B M Haun4

  • 1University of St Andrews, School of Psychology &Neuroscience, Westburn Lane, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9JP, United Kingdom.

Scientific Reports
|March 14, 2017
PubMed
Summary

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Chimpanzees were observed using grass stems to clean the teeth of a deceased group member. This novel behavior offers insights into primate tool use and potential evolutionary links to human mortuary practices.

Area of Science:

  • Primatology
  • Ethology
  • Evolutionary Anthropology

Background:

  • Non-human primate behavior offers insights into human evolution.
  • Understanding animal responses to death can illuminate the origins of human mortuary rituals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To document and analyze a novel instance of tool use in chimpanzees related to a deceased individual.
  • To explore the implications of this behavior for understanding the evolution of human mortuary practices.

Main Methods:

  • Direct observation of chimpanzee behavior in their natural habitat.
  • Detailed recording of tool selection and application during corpse interaction.

Main Results:

  • A female chimpanzee was observed using a grass stem to meticulously clean debris from the teeth of a deceased young male.

Related Experiment Videos

  • This represents a previously undocumented behavior in the chimpanzee ethogram.

    • Conclusions:

    • Chimpanzee tool use extends to complex social behaviors, including interactions with deceased conspecifics.
    • Further research using advanced observation techniques is crucial to fully understand non-human animal responses to death and their evolutionary significance.