Systematic mapping of developmental milestones in wild chimpanzees

A systematic mapping of developmental milestones in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) reveals that gross motor skills emerge at around 4 months, followed by communication traits at 12 months, social interaction traits at 14 months, and fine motor traits at 15 months. Later-emerging milestones show greater inter-individual variation in timing, suggesting a prolonged infantile phase with sustained skills development. This pattern mirrors observations in humans, indicating that extended developmental periods have deep evolutionary roots and implications for primate brain evolution. The study analyzed a longitudinal sample of 19 wild chimpanzee infants from Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire, providing valuable insights into the evolutionary drivers of protracted postnatal development.

Bründl, A. C., Tkaczynski, P. J., Nohon Kohou, G., Boesch, C., Wittig, R. M., & Crockford, C. (2020). Systematic mapping of developmental milestones in wild chimpanzees. Developmental Science, 24(1). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.12988