3 sources·Science

Ronan the Sea Lion Dazzles with Beat-Keeping Abilities in New Study

Ronan, a 15-year-old sea lion, has been found to keep time to music better than humans, showcasing extraordinary rhythmic abilities.

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What is particularly notable about Ronan is that she can learn to dance to a beat without learning to sing or talk musically.
Ronan the sea lion can keep a beat better than humans
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Ronan still has it.
Scientists once thought only humans could bob to music. Ronan the sea lion helped prove them wrong
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However, if we consider what rhythm involves, it starts to make more sense from an evolutionary perspective.
“Oh My God, We’re Back Again”: Beat-Keeping Sea Lion's Comeback Proves Her Rhythm Is Better Than Some Humans'
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Updated: May 1st, 2025, 12:35 PM ET

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Ronan, a California sea lion, has regained attention as researchers confirm her rhythmic prowess in a new study, showing better beat-keeping than college students. Over 12 years, Ronan has displayed the unique ability to identify and move to rhythms, challenging the belief that only vocal learners can do so. The study, published in Scientific Reports, revealed she was precise with her timing, placing her in the 99th percentile compared to human participants. This suggests that understanding rhythm may have evolutionary benefits for animals, which researchers aim to explore further with other sea lions.

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