Bili-Uéré: A Chimpanzee Behavioural Realm in Northern Democratic Republic Congo

In this special topic issue, Hicks and colleagues describe the insect-related tool technology and food-related percussive technology of the Bili-Uéré chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii). Based on a 12-year study period in 20 sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the researchers describe the characteristics and function of a new chimpanzee tool kit. Tools include long probes used to harvest epigaeic driver ants (Dorylus spp.), short probes for extracting ponerine ants and the arboreal nests of stingless bees, wands to dip for Dorylus kohli, and stout digging sticks used to access underground meliponine nests. There are two newly described tools – an ant scoop and a fruit hammer. Notably missing is a termite fishing tool. This new chimpanzee behavioural complex is characterized by a general similarity of multiple behaviours across a large, ecologically-diverse region, which the authors refer to as the Bili-Uéré Chimpanzee Behavioral Realm. This publication is for everyone interested in animal culture, animal cognition, primate archaeology, and human evolution. It is also relevant to the study of the evolution of human and non-human material cultures.