France, May 18 -- Chimpanzees don't just drum on tree roots for fun - they do it in rhythm, and they may be using it to send messages through the forest.

That's what a team of scientists found after analysing more than 370 recordings from 11 chimpanzee communities in six groups across Africa.

Their findings, published this month in Current Biology, show that chimpanzees are capable of creating rhythmic sequences - something long thought to be mostly human.

By hitting tree roots, the chimps produce low-frequency sounds that can travel more than a kilometre. This could allow them to stay in touch across large distances, even when they're out of sight.Choosing the right tree

Chimpanzees aren't just drumming at random. They make careful c...