Monkeys use names for each other in communication, study says
marmoset uses phee calls to assign names during communication. PHOTO: PEXELS
Monkeys use names in communication, landmark study reveals
Marmosets are capable of recognising and addressing each other by name, according to groundbreaking research conducted by scientists at the Hebrew University. The study, published in the journal *Science* on Thursday, demonstrates that these monkeys use specific vocalisations, known as “phee-calls,” to communicate in a way that suggests a high level of cognitive behaviour—something previously documented only in humans, dolphins, and elephants.
“This is the first time we’ve observed this behaviour in non-human primates,” said David Omer, the study’s lead author and an assistant professor at the university’s Safra Centre for Brain Sciences.
The research highlights a sophisticated level of communication among marmosets, shedding new light on the cognitive abilities of primates beyond humans.