Chimps show versatility

Chimpanzee cultures are capable of being as diverse as human societies, scientists claimed today.

Research into the habits of nine separate chimp populations in Africa found regional differences in the way the primates use tools and deal with parasites.

Professor Andrew Whitten, of St Andrews University, and Professor William McGrew, of Miami University, Ohio, who are leading the study, said cultural habits rather than genetic differences were responsible for the variations.

Experts found that West African chimps used wood or stone to crack nuts, while their cousins in the east were still using their bare hands even though stones and wood were both available.

While the West African technique allowed the chimps to split the nuts wide open, in East Africa the chimps were unable to get to the kernel.

However, East African chimpanzees were more sophisticated when it came to dealing with parasites, grooming the insects off each other onto leaves before inspecting or squashing them.

By contrast, West Africa monkeys simply killed parasites by crushing them on their forearms.

The research, which is based at St Andrews, is part of the Chimpanzee Cultures Project which has brought together top researchers from Europe, Japan and America.

Professor McGrew, who is spending six weeks as a senior visiting fellow at the Scottish university, said: ‘‘St Andrews is now the focal point of international research on cultural primatology.

‘‘For example, experts have logged over 40 different types of tool use, demonstrating that chimpanzee technology varies according to resources and raw materials, as well as with techniques for exploitation.

‘‘Knowing that the chimpanzee is an endangered species is an even greater spur to pressing on with our studies.’’