Marmosets Can Call Each Other Names!

Recent research has unveiled a fascinating aspect of marmoset behavior: these small primates appear to use specific vocalizations to address each other, similar to how humans use names. This discovery could shed light on the evolution of language. In a study published in Science, researchers observed that marmosets use distinctive calls known as “phee-calls” to communicate with specific individuals. By recording interactions among pairs of marmosets and between marmosets and a computer, scientists found that these calls serve as a form of vocal labeling. The monkeys not only used these calls to address one another but also responded when they heard their own call, indicating an understanding of who the caller was.

Marmosets, which live in small, close-knit family groups, have a rich array of social calls. In the study, ten marmosets were placed in enclosures with a visual barrier and recorded interacting with both familiar and unfamiliar group members. The results showed that marmosets use these calls not only for self-localization but also for labeling and addressing individuals within their groups. This behavior resembles human dialects and suggests that marmosets, like humans, can learn and adapt vocal labels.

David Omer from the Safra Center for Brain Sciences highlighted that this ability might have evolved to help marmosets coordinate and stay connected in their dense rainforest habitat. The findings also propose that the evolution of vocal communication in marmosets may offer insights into the development of language in early human ancestors.

Latest Petitions to Sign:

• Petition: Demand That a Judge Be Disbarred Immediately for Putting a Sleepy Teen in Handcuffs
• Petition: Help Hold Corporations Accountable for Their Actions
• Petition: Help Hold Reckless Campers Responsible for Getting a Beloved Bear Killed
• Petition: Tell Authorities to Explore Non-lethal Alternatives to Manage the Barred Owl Population
• Petition: Demand an Immediate Ban on Sweden’s Annual Bear Cull
• Petition: Tell Starbucks to Revoke Its Private Jet Offer to Its CEO and Support Sustainable Practices
• Petition: Demand Justice for Dog Who Was Neglected So Severely She Had Maggots Eating Her Alive
• Petition: Help Kenya Protect Rhinos from Poachers
• Petition: Tell California City to Reverse Its Regressive Pride Flag Ban
• Petition: Help Save Non-English Speakers from a Higher Death Risk from Childbirth in the UK

Related Content:

• Dogs Remember Toy Names for Years, Study Finds
• How Giving Animals Names Can Change Children’s Views on Eating Meat
• Elephants Invent Names for Each Other, Study Finds
• Study Suggests That Facially Expressive Monkeys Make the Best Leaders

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!