A study has found that young chimpanzees develop distinct population-specific vocal patterns as they mature (ontogeny), challenging the long-held assumption that their calls are inflexible and determined solely by genetics. The work is published in the journal PLOS One.
Analysis of over 11,000 chimpanzee laughs, groans, and cries revealed that each population has its own unique vocal signatures, and these differences become more apparent as they grow older.