Lemurs could hold vital clues about the origin of human music.
Indris lemurs could hold information about human musical evolution
A study of "singing" Indris lemurs that live in the Madagascan rainforest has revealed that the animals have learned to communicate through song like humans and birds do.
The lemurs also use rhythmic vocalisations such as alarm calls to warn their fellow creatures when predators are approaching.
Experts from the University of Warwick and the University of Turin have found that Indris have "isochrony" in their communication - where the time in between sounds and notes are equal, just like in music - after recording the animals over a period of 15 years.
The team suggests that the results show that humanity's musical attributes could have evolved early in the primate lineage.
Dr. Daria Valente, co-author of the study at the University of Turin, said: "The findings highlight the evolutionary roots of musical rhythm, demonstrating that the foundational elements of human music can be traced back to early primate communication systems."