The cacatua are one of the most well -known families of parrots in the world: there are 21 species, scattered between Australia and Southeast Asia, and many of these are among the most popular pets in the world, protagonists of hundreds of thousands of viral videos circulating on social networks. Take this, one of the most famous ever, and you will understand why: you can see a cocation that dances at the rhythm of a piece by Elvis.
Because yes, one of the most incredible features of the cacounts is that, as far as we know, they are the only birds that dance following an external rhythm. And how they dance! A study published on Plos Onewhich analyzed all the well -known species of cacatua, has identified at least 30 different dance moves, which are also combined to create new and original ones. The most interesting aspect? It is not just a question of courtship.
The repertoire of the coc am. To get an idea of the Darzereccio dei Cacatua repertoire, the Charles Start University team in Australia, which conducted the study, first of all analyzed 45 several videos of parrots Danzerecci, so that they can more easily catalog and classify their dance moves. After that, you are the cocoation of the Wagga Wagga zoo were used as “models”: the team made them listen to them of music, and by contrasting non -musical podcasts, to study their reactions.
The first result of this analysis has been confirming that the dance is widespread among the cacounts: they are not only the most common species in captivity (such as the orgying, by far the most present in our homes) to react to music, but at least 9 out of a total of 21. And nothing excludes that even some of the other species dance, and we have simply never seen them do it. In short, dance is a fundamental trait of the coc am.
Dance that passes to you. The question is therefore spontaneous: why do the cacou dance so much? On the origins of their dances, the science agrees: it was, at the beginning, a method of courtship, which is still used by the cacoure males to impress the females. However, we have repeatedly witnessed wild dances made by lonely males, without females to look at them, and sometimes even the females themselves dance: it is clear that it is a behavior whose purpose has expanded compared to the primary one.
Why then the cacounts dance? A possible explanation is linked to the fact that the part of their brain responsible for synchronizing body movements and making them go to rhythm is the same connected to vocal learning: dance could be a way to keep their skills in training.
Or it could simply be something that makes them feel good, and a form of environmental enrichment for the specimens in captivity: if you really have to keep a cacatua, in short, make sure to buy a nice stereo.
