A recent study published in the journal Science has unveiled that marmoset monkeys use distinctive “phee calls” to address specific individuals within their groups, much like humans use names. This discovery places marmosets among a select group of animals known to use name-like signals, including dolphins and elephants.

Vocal Identification in Marmosets

Marmosets, small and social primates native to South America, communicate through various vocalizations such as chirps, trills, and phee calls. The study, conducted by neuroscientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, focused on these phee calls, typically used when the monkeys are out of sight in dense rainforests. Researchers found that these calls not only convey the monkey’s identity but also information about the intended recipient, akin to calling someone by their name.

Family Dialects and Individual Names

Using machine learning technology, the study identified distinct acoustic patterns in phee calls, suggesting that each monkey has a unique name. Intriguingly, members of the same family often use similar names for a particular monkey, reflecting a shared “dialect” within the family group.

Implications for Animal Communication

The findings prompt further exploration into whether this ability is widespread among other species or specific to a few. Researchers believe this study challenges our current understanding of animal intelligence and communication complexity, encouraging a reexamination of how we perceive non-human communication.