Lemur 'Honks' in Madagascar Offer Insights on Human Music Evolution

Researchers studying lemurs in Madagascar have found that these animals, particularly the indris or 'singing lemurs', exhibit a unique sense of rhythm in their vocalizations, resembling musical abilities seen in humans. The lemurs use different sounds for communication and to warn of predators, showing a primitive form of rhythmic communication. This discovery suggests that the ability to produce and perceive rhythm is ancient and could provide insights into the evolution of music in humans. The findings, published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, indicate that elements of musical attributes might have emerged early in the primate lineage, potentially influencing human musical development.