Dancing animals are big on the internet, but what you may not know is that they're also important for science. Although most flamenco-dancing chihuahuas and strutting chickens only look like they have rhythm, there are a few animals that can actually keep a beat—and scientists are using that to uncover the roots of our own toe-tapping tendencies.
Dancing Mammals (And Birds, Too)
What Animal Beat-Keeping Says About Us
Watch And Learn: Our Favorite Content About Dancing Animals
Ronan The Beat-Keeping Sea Lion
Key Facts In This Video
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Before Ronan the sea lion proved that she could keep a beat, parrots and related birds were the only animals that had demonstrated the ability. 00:13
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Ronan the sea lion first learned to bob along in sync with simple sounds, similar to those from a metronome. 00:57
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Before Ronan the sea lion was trained, some researchers thought that keeping a beat was tied to vocal mimicry in animals. 01:45
Sea Lions Can Keep A Beat
Why Do Animals Dance?
Written by
Ashley Hamer
April 26, 2017
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