Chimpanzees use the pant-hoot as a long-distance vocal display to communicate excitement and group presence.
A pant-hoot is a sequence of calls that can include panting, hooting, and other vocal elements. Chimpanzees commonly produce it during greetings, displays, reunions, and encounters with other groups. The sound can carry through dense forest, helping individuals maintain contact when visibility is poor.
The pant-hoot is not a single fixed note. Its structure varies with the caller, social situation, and audience. Researchers distinguish it from chimpanzee alarm calls, screams, and food calls, which serve different purposes.
Chimpanzees and bonobos are closely related great apes, but their vocal repertoires are not identical. The term “pant-hoot” is especially associated with chimpanzee communication and is widely used in primate-behavior research.