A group of Tamarin Monkeys were caught whispering to each other, making them the first non-human primates to be observed doing so.
A group of Tamarin Monkeys were caught whispering to each other, making them the first non-human primates to be observed doing so.
Gophers, bats, and some fish have been known to communicate in hushed tones when the situation calls for it, but that the monkeys did it too came as a complete surprise.
The scientists who witnessed the behavior were staked out waiting for the tamarins to do something entirely different.
What they were expecting the furry monkeys to do was scream loudly and wildly, an intimidation practice called mobbing, when they were introduced to a particular stimulus.
The trigger was a zookeeper the tamarins have made clear they really, really dislike.
He was one of the people on the team that captured the family of five.
Typically when he is in their presence they go into an intense mode of mobbing.
On this occasion however, they did the opposite and spoke to one another in hushed voices.
It was concluded that the tamarins chose to whisper instead of yell to avoid calling attention to their group, giving them time to form and communicate a response plan.
