Are animals musical?

Music is not a uniquely human phenomenon, as various species demonstrate complex rhythmic abilities, intentional performance, and physiological responses to sound. Chimpanzees exhibit forward planning and tool creation by constructing makeshift drums to accompany their vocalizations. Indri lemurs display sophisticated rhythmic patterns, while parrots like Snowball demonstrate "entrainment"—the ability to predict and move in time to a musical beat—a trait previously thought exclusive to humans. Beyond rhythm, species-specific compositions based on biological heart rates and vocalizations, such as David Teie’s music for cats, show that animals can derive comfort from tailored auditory stimuli. Even insects are affected by sound, as high-frequency dubstep has been shown to disrupt the feeding and mating behaviors of dengue-carrying mosquitoes. These findings suggest that the fundamental elements of music, including melody, rhythm, and purpose, exist across the animal kingdom.