Marmoset Monkeys Use Unique Calls to Name Each Other
Researchers found that marmoset monkeys use "phee-calls" for identification and communication, indicating advanced cognitive skills and complex social structures, similar to human language evolution.
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Researchers from Hebrew University have found that marmoset monkeys use specific vocalizations, termed "phee-calls," to identify and communicate with one another, a behavior previously observed only in humans, dolphins, and elephants. This discovery indicates that marmosets possess advanced cognitive skills in social communication, as they can label and address specific individuals. The study revealed that marmoset families share similar vocal labels, akin to human names and dialects, suggesting a complex social structure. The researchers recorded natural interactions among marmosets and found that these calls are not merely for self-localization; they serve to label and address others. Marmosets responded more accurately to calls directed at them, highlighting their understanding of these vocal cues. The findings suggest that this vocal labeling may have evolved to help marmosets maintain social bonds in their dense rainforest habitat. The study provides new insights into the evolution of social communication and language, indicating that marmosets may have developed cognitive mechanisms similar to those that led to human language. This research opens avenues for further exploration into the evolution of communication in both humans and nonhuman primates.
- Marmoset monkeys use "phee-calls" to identify and communicate with each other.
- This vocal labeling behavior was previously observed only in humans, dolphins, and elephants.
- Marmoset families share similar vocal labels, resembling human names and dialects.
- The ability to discern directed calls indicates advanced cognitive skills in social communication.
- The study offers insights into the evolution of social communication and language.
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