title: Chimpanzees Differentially Produce Novel Vocalizations to Capture the Attention of a Human.
abstract: Chimpanzees produce numerous species-atypical signals when raised in captivity. Here we report contextual elements of the use of two captivity-specific vocal signals, the "raspberry" and the extended grunt. Results demonstrate that these vocalizations are not elicited by the presence of food; rather the data suggest that these vocalizations function as attention-getting signals. These findings demonstrate a heretofore underappreciated category of animal signals: novel signals invented in novel environmental circumstances. The invention and use of species-atypical signals, considered in relation to group differences in signaling repertoires in apes in their natural habitats, may index a generative capacity in these hominoid species without obvious corollary in other primate species.
authors: William D
authors: WD
authors: Hopkins
authors: Jared
authors: J
authors: Taglialatela
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Leavens