New Study Reveals Monkeys' Vocal Membranes Enable Unique 'Ultra-Yodels'

Research shows New World monkeys can produce vocalizations spanning over three octaves, thanks to specialized throat structures absent in humans.

Monkeys' vocal membranes allow for frequency jumps up to five times larger than those possible in human voices.
These membranes, which humans lost during evolution, destabilize voice pitch but enable a wider vocal range.
New World monkeys, such as howler and spider monkeys, can produce vocalizations exceeding three musical octaves.
An international team used fieldwork, CT scans, and simulations to study monkey calls in a Bolivian wildlife sanctuary.
The findings highlight evolutionary trade-offs in vocal anatomy and open avenues for exploring primate communication and social behavior.