Study Shows Chimpanzees Have a Knack for Rhythm

New research reveals that chimpanzees beat on tree trunks with a discernible rhythm, suggesting an evolutionary basis for musicality. Scientists studying 11 chimp communities found distinct drumming patterns, possibly used for long-distance communication. The findings hint that our closest living relatives share foundational musical traits with humans. Different groups varied their beats, suggesting that chimps across regions created unique “rhythmic dialects.” Similar phenomena were observed in a California seal that could keep time with external cues, expanding our knowledge of how nonhuman animals track beats.