A study published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour reveals that some **chimpanzees** are true experts in the **art of nut cracking**.
The research, which has spanned a quarter of a century, provides an unprecedented look at the skills of these primates in their **natural habitat**.
Comprehensive analysis of chimpanzee skills
The research team, led by biologist **Sophie Berdugo** from the University of Oxford (United Kingdom), delved into a comprehensive analysis of nearly 4,000 sessions of chimpanzees cracking nuts in the **Bossou region**, in Guinea.
What they discovered is remarkable: there are notable differences among individuals in terms of their efficiency in performing this task. Some chimpanzees manage to **crack nuts with impressive skill**, while others of the same age and sex may take twice as long. This variation is not random or temporary, but seems to be a constant feature of each individual.
Acquired skills and cognitive development
Researchers evaluated various aspects of this skill, such as the duration of each attempt, **the accuracy of the strikes**, and the success rate. Interestingly, they found that most of these skills improve with age, reaching their peak around 11 years old. For the authors of the study, it is as if chimpanzees go through **a natural ‘nut-cracking school’**, perfecting their technique over time.
This discovery has important implications for our understanding of evolution and cognitive development, as the ability to use tools efficiently can mean the difference between a good meal and going hungry in nature.
A fascinating and extensively observed phenomenon
The study stands out for its extensive **observation period**, something uncommon in this type of research. This allows scientists to be confident that the observed differences are real and not a product of chance or temporary circumstances.
Researchers now wonder what lies behind these individual differences: variations in cognitive skills, motor dexterity, or perhaps a combination of both? These questions open the door to future work that could reveal even more about the fascinating **minds of these primates**.
“Just like humans, **each chimpanzee is unique**, with their own strengths and abilities,” the experts remind us. Perhaps the next time we struggle to crack a particularly tough nut, we could feel a bit more connected to our closest evolutionary relatives.
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