At the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, researchers studying apes compiled a ‘Great Ape Dictionary’. The gestures used by wild gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees and bonobos reveal surprising similarities across the different species.

The researchers catalogued dozens of common gestures, from “arms wave”, “beckon”, “clap” and “dangle” to “stroke” and “tandem walk”. The dance choreography follows the ape repertoire in alphabetical order.