Researchers have documented for the first time how wild chimpanzees use specific criteria to select plants with suitable mechanical properties when making flexible tools to fish for termites.
This finding, led by Dr. Alejandra Pascual-Garrido and published in the journal iScience, opens up new perspectives on technological evolution in both primates and humans.
Tools for Termite Fishing
Termites are of great importance to chimpanzees, as they are a nutritious source rich in energy, fats, vitamins, minerals, and proteins.
To catch termites in sinuous tunnels within termite mounds, chimpanzees need thin and flexible probes.
During the study, it was observed that chimpanzees prefer less rigid plants that are easier to bend. The unused materials were 175% stiffer than their favorites.
Scientific Evidence
The study was conducted in Gombe, Tanzania. There, researchers measured the mechanical properties of plants used and not used.
Among the preferred species, Grewia spp. stood out, used by chimpanzee communities up to 5,000 km away, suggesting a widespread preference based on mechanical properties.
The first comprehensive evidence showed that chimpanzees select materials based on their functional characteristics, indicating an innate capacity for rudimentary engineering.
Cognitive Implications and Cultural Transmission
This behavior raises questions about how chimpanzees learn and transmit this knowledge:
- Observation and intergenerational learning: Young chimpanzees learn by observing and using tools made by their mothers.
- Comparison with early humans: Analyzing this behavior can provide insights into how early humans selected materials for tools.
Impact on the Study of Human Evolution
Resilience of mechanical principles: Although perishable materials like wood do not survive in the archaeological record, the principles behind their use remain constant across species and time.
Studying how chimpanzees choose materials helps understand the physical limitations that would have affected the early use of tools by humans.
Cover Photo: Alejandra Pascual-Garrido – University of Oxford
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