TABLE 4.

Maximum ages of acquisition of termite‐gathering critical elements in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo, and at Gombe, Tanzania

Critical element	Goualougo	Gombe
Termite fishing
Identify hole	1.7 (0.4–1.7), N = 12	1.5 (0.5–1.5), N = 8
Manipulate fishing probe	2.1 (0.3–2.1), N = 12	1.5 (0.5–1.5), N = 8
Insert fishing probe	2.7 (1.2–2.7), N = 13	4.5 (2.5–4.5), N = 8
Extract termites	2.9 (1.3–2.9), N = 11	5.5 (2.5–5.5), N = 6
Manufacture fishing probe without brush tip	3.0 (1.2–3.0), N = 6	3.5 (1.5–3.5), N = 6
Manufacture brush‐tipped fishing probe	5.8 (2.5–5.8), N = 10	—
Perforating at epigeal termite nests
Perforate	10.5 (3.9–10.5), N = 8	—
Tool set: Perforate + fish	10.5 (3.9–10.5), N = 7	—
Puncturing at subterranean termite nests
Puncture	11.7 (11.0–11.7), N = 2	—
Tool set: Puncture and fish	11.7 (11.0–11.7), N = 2	—

Note: Values are the age in years by which all individuals in the sample acquired the critical element. Age ranges of the earliest and latest appearances of the behaviors are listed in parentheses, followed by sample size of individuals (N). “—” indicates that the behavior does not occur at Gombe.