How to speak LEMUR: Researchers decode the grunts and hums

How to speak LEMUR: Researchers decode the grunts and hums

Researchers have discovered that lemurs use different types of vocalizations to stay close to members of their group. 

These vocalizations may aid in protecting them from predators and improve social cohesion within the group. 

The researchers found that male ring-tailed lemurs used both 'moan' and 'hmm' calls to maintain proximity to their neighbors, particularly during behaviors that could lead to separation - such as during travel or vigilance. 

Lemur moans are short, high-pitched vocalizations that are used most frequently when lemurs are apart from each other in the trees or on the ground. By contrast, the 'hmm' sound is quieter and used most frequently when lemurs are moving, feeding and keeping a watch fo r predators

HOW TO SPEAK LEMUR

Dr Laura Bolt, a primatologist at the University of Toronto, focused on two different types of vocalizations - 'moans' and 'hmms' produced by male lemurs, who are the lowest ranking members of female-dominant groups.

Lemur moans are short, high-pitched vocalizations that are used most frequently when lemurs are apart from each other in the trees or on the ground. 

By contrast, the 'hmm' sound is quieter and used most frequently when lemurs are moving, feeding and keeping a watch for predators. 

For the moan vocalization, the highest call rates occurred when the nearest neighbo r was further away, and the 'hmm' call was used most often by low-ranking males, especially when preferred companions were nearby.

Ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) spend their days moving through tree canopies or along the forest floor looking for food. 

When in search for food, they leave their group vulnerable to predators such as the cat-like, carnivorous fossa, harrier hawks and feral cats and dogs. 

But contact calls can help lemurs keep track of each other, acting as a safety measure.  

According to research conducted by the University of Toronto, Mississauga, lemur vocalizations may provide important clues about how ancient human ancestors may have socialized with each other.

To learn more about ring-tailed lemur vocalizations, Dr Laura Bolt, a primatologist at the University of Toronto, Mississaug a, spent five months at the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, a protected park in southwest Madagascar. 

Dr Bolt studied vocal communication in male members of five different ring-tailed lemur groups. 

According to the researchers, ring-tailed lemurs have the largest vocal repertoire of all lemurs, making 22 different vocal sounds. 

'Social lemursâ€"those who live in social groupsâ€"are the living primates most like our early ancestors,' Dr Bolt says. 

'Patterns of individual and sex-specific call usage are still poorly understood. 

'Gaining a better knowledge of how group-living lemur species use contact calls helps to inform our understanding of the evolution of primate cognition.'

Dr Bolt focused on two different types of vocalizations - 'moans' and 'hmms' produced by male lemurs, wh o are the lowest ranking members of female-dominant groups. 

Lemur moans are short, high-pitched vocalizations that are used most frequently when lemurs are apart from each other in the trees or on the ground. 

By contrast, the 'hmm' sound is quieter and used most frequently when lemurs are moving, feeding and keeping a watch for predators. 

Ring-tailed lemurs spend their days moving through tree canopies or along the forest floor looking for food. When in search for food, they leave their group vulnerable to predators such as the cat-like, carnivorous fossa (pictured), harrier hawks and feral cats and dogs

'We found that male ring-tailed lemurs used both moan and hmm calls to maintain proximity to their nearest neighbour,' Dr Bolt says. 

'They performed both moan and hmm vocalizations at higher rates during behaviours that could lead to separation from group members, such as during travel or vigilance.' 

For the moan vocalization, the highest call rates occurred when the nearest neighbor was further away.

Male ring-tailed lemurs use both 'moan' and 'hmm' calls to maintain proximity to their neighbors, particularly during behaviors that could lead to separation - such as during travel or vigilance

Dr Bolt found that the 'hmm' call was used most often by low-ranking males, especially when preferred companions were nearby. 

Since low-ranking males are regularly targets of aggression, Dr Bolt concludes that low-ranking males use 'hmm' sounds to stay close to specific members of the group who will show them more tolerance. 

'These results further our understanding of how ring-tailed vocalizations may function to keep social groups together,' says Dr Bolt.

Lemur 'moan' are short, high-pitched vocalizations that are used most frequently when lemurs are apart from each other in the trees or on the ground. By contrast, the 'hmm' sound is quieter and used most frequently when lemurs are moving, feeding and watching for predators

 

 

 

 

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