Gibbon dances provide a model for studying the use of gestural signals in primates

Female crested gibbons exhibit jerky, almost geometric movements. Researchers from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU), Oslo in Norway and Paris studied these remarkable movements, which are comparable to human dances.

In the magazine Primatesthey describe the structure of the dances, their rhythm and the contexts in which the dances take place.

Zoo visitors may have already seen how female crested gibbons perform remarkable sequences of twitching movements involving the rump, arms and legs. This behavior can be observed in zoos but also in nature.

Crested gibbons belong to the family of small apes. So far, this special exhibition has generated little scientific interest. 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 analyzed this striking behavior gibbons. in more detail. They focused on the sequence of movements, rhythm and intentionality, that is, the circumstances in which the gibbons perform the dances.

Dr Coye, lead author of the study, said: “Our review of video material from various zoos and rescue centers provides evidence that all species of crested gibbons perform these dances. They represent a common and intentional form of communication visual.” The fact that gibbons often check during a performance to see if the audience is paying attention is an indicator of the intentional use of the dances.

Professor Patel-Grosz: “Only sexually mature females dance. Within species, dances are obviously used primarily to solicit copulation, but they also occur in a wide range of situations related to nonsexual arousal or frustration and are also frequently directed toward humans. when executed in captivity in zoos.

Researchers have also observed that dance movements exhibit a grouping structure. Dr. Caspar: “They are often organized in groups of movements from top to bottom or left to right and follow a clear rhythm. Depending on the individual, the movement sequences can vary in complexity.”

Researchers can see similarities between the crested gibbon and human dances, but assume they evolved independently of each other. This conclusion is based, among other things, on the fact that other species of monkeys do not exhibit this type of behavior.

Furthermore, gibbon dances are also likely innate, whereas human dancing is primarily culturally determined. Human dancing is also frequently accompanied by music or singing, while this is never the case for gibbons.

“The dancing behavior was noticed by chance, but is now being reported in various zoos,” says Dr Caspar. Dancing crested gibbons can be seen at Duisburg Zoo and Burgers Zoo in Arnhem in the Netherlands, among other places.