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Tools to tipple: ethanol ingestion by wild chimpanzees using leaf-sponges

Hockings, Kimberley J., Bryson-Morrison, Nicola, Carvalho, Susana, Fujisawa, Michiko, Humle, Tatyana, McGrew, William C., Nakamura, Miho, Ohashi, Gaku, Yamanashi, Yumi, Yamakoshi, Gen, and others. (2015) Tools to tipple: ethanol ingestion by wild chimpanzees using leaf-sponges. Royal Society open science, 2 (6). Article Number 150150. ISSN 2054-5703. E-ISSN 2054-5703. (doi:10.1098/rsos.150150) (KAR id:56223)

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Abstract

African apes and humans share a genetic mutation that enables them to effectively metabolize ethanol. However, voluntary ethanol consumption in this evolutionary radiation is documented only in modern humans. Here, we report evidence of the long-term and recurrent ingestion of ethanol from the raffia palm (Raphia hookeri, Arecaceae) by wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) at Bossou in Guinea, West Africa, from 1995 to 2012. Chimpanzees at Bossou ingest this alcoholic beverage, often in large quantities, despite an average presence of ethanol of 3.1% alcohol by volume (ABV) and up to 6.9% ABV. Local people tap raffia palms and the sap collects in plastic containers, and chimpanzees use elementary technology—a leafy tool—to obtain this fermenting sap. These data show that ethanol does not act as a deterrent to feeding in this community of wild apes, supporting the idea that the last common ancestor of living African apes and modern humans was not averse to ingesting foods containing ethanol.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1098/rsos.150150
Additional information: PT: J; TC: 0; UT: MEDLINE:26543588
Uncontrolled keywords: ethanol ingestion, elementary tool-use, great apes, raffia palm
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: Tatyana Humle
Date Deposited: 06 Jul 2016 11:23 UTC
Last Modified: 10 Jan 2024 08:55 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/56223 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Bryson-Morrison, Nicola.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Humle, Tatyana.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1919-631X
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