Indri lemurs use opera-like vocal techniques to sing

Researchers have discovered that the indri, the world’s only known singing lemur, utilizes a vocal technique strikingly similar to that of professional opera singers. A study published in PLOS Computational Biology reveals that these primates use a process called ‘formant tuning’ to project their songs through the dense rainforests of Madagascar.

By analyzing 83 video recordings of 19 wild indris using markerless motion-tracking technology, scientists from the University of Warwick and the University of Turin found that the lemurs open their mouths wider as the pitch of their songs increases. This adjustment changes the shape of the vocal tract, allowing the sound to resonate more effectively and travel longer distances through thick vegetation.

This biological mechanism is crucial for the indri’s survival, as their complex, siren-like songs are used to establish territory, strengthen social bonds, and warn neighboring groups. Researchers noted that this fine-tuned coordination between voice and body is a level of complexity typically associated with trained human singers. The study also highlights the importance of protecting the indri, a species currently facing threats from habitat destruction and fragmentation.