Mineral Acquisition from Clay by Budongo Forest Chimpanzees.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Reynolds V
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4517816 | biostudies-literature | 2015
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Mineral Acquisition from Clay by Budongo Forest Chimpanzees.
Reynolds Vernon V Lloyd Andrew W AW English Christopher J CJ Lyons Peter P Dodd Howard H Hobaiter Catherine C Newton-Fisher Nicholas N Mullins Caroline C Lamon Noemie N Schel Anne Marijke AM Fallon Brittany B
PloS one 20150728 7
Chimpanzees of the Sonso community, Budongo Forest, Uganda were observed eating clay and drinking clay-water from waterholes. We show that clay, clay-rich water, and clay obtained with leaf sponges, provide a range of minerals in different concentrations. The presence of aluminium in the clay consumed indicates that it takes the form of kaolinite. We discuss the contribution of clay geophagy to the mineral intake of the Sonso chimpanzees and show that clay eaten using leaf sponges is particularl ...[more]
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