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Animal behaviour

An unusual social display by gorillas

Nature volume 412, page 294 (2001)Cite this article

A Correction to this article was published on 30 August 2001

Abstract

We have observed wild western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) using water to generate spectacular 'splash displays'. Most of these displays were made by silverbacks in an agonistic context, and we propose that they are primarily linked to the intimidation of potential rivals for female acquisition. This unusual behaviour may have developed only in gorillas that visit open swampland, where visibility greatly exceeds that encountered in the forest and highly visual, long-distance displays are therefore of value.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Scottish Primate Research Group, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK

    Richard J. Parnell & Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith

  2. Wildlife Conservation Society, New York Zoological Society, 185th Street and Southern Boulevard, Bronx, 10460-1099, New York, USA

    Richard J. Parnell

Authors
  1. Richard J. Parnell
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  2. Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith
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Correspondence to Richard J. Parnell.

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Parnell, R., Buchanan-Smith, H. An unusual social display by gorillas. Nature 412, 294 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35085631

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