Book 33, Question 118
Why do gorillas beat their chests?
A big male gorilla called a silverback stands up and thumps his chest, making a loud hollow sound.
It lets other gorillas know where he is and how big and strong he is, usually without a fight. It also warns others to keep their distance. Gorillas are mostly gentle plant-eaters who prefer peace. The drumming is a way to talk.
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Quick answers
Why do gorillas beat their chests?
Wright believes this is at least partly because chest-beating allows males to size each other up without getting physical.
Source: National Geographic
More fun facts
- To smaller males, the sound of a silverback’s chest-beat may discourage them from approaching.
- The team also noticed that larger gorillas produced deeper-toned chest drumming.
- Researchers are unsure why larger gorillas' chests produce a lower frequency but suspect that it may be because air sacs near their larynx are also larger, Inverse reports.
- Silverbacks beat their chests most often when females under their protection are entering estrus, the time they’re most ready to mate.
- Scientists observed 25 wild male mountain gorillas for over 3,000 hours at Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda between 2014 and 2016, National Geographic reports.
- Mountain gorillas live in tight-knit family groups led by silverback males, whose authority is constantly being challenged by other males.
Sources: National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine
Questions kids ask
Do young gorillas beat their chests too?
Lower-level male gorillas, or subordinates, also perform the chest-beating behavior, as do baby male gorillas when they’re playing.
Source: National Geographic