TED-Ed: Do you speak monkey? The language of cotton-top tamarins - Anne Savage

In Colombia's tropical forests, Shakira, a cotton-top tamarin, communicates using a complex language of chirps and whistles. Each call has a unique meaning, with chirps categorized by frequency and duration, and whistles by modulation. Shakira's daily life showcases these calls, including combination vocalizations that form sentences. The video emphasizes the need to protect Shakira's endangered species from habitat destruction.

What is unique about the language of Shakira, the cotton-top tamarin?

• It consists of 38 distinct calls.

• It is based on human speech patterns.

• It is a written language.

• It uses only whistles.

How many different types of chirps are there in Shakira's communication?

• Ten

• Eight

• Twelve

• Five

What determines the type of initially modulated whistle Shakira uses?

• The weather conditions

• The proximity to her family

• The type of food available

• The time of day

What call does Shakira use when she spots a predator?

• A chirp for food

• A whistle for play

• An E chirp for alarm

• A squeal for attention

What is a combination vocalization in Shakira's language?

• A call that is used only at night

• A call that combines a chirp and a whistle

• A call that is used for singing

• A call that is used for mating

What threat is Shakira's habitat currently facing?

• Excessive rainfall

• Deforestation

• Increased tourism

• Overpopulation of tamarins

Why is it important to protect the cotton-top tamarin?

• To preserve their unique language

• To improve local agriculture

• To increase tourism

• To reduce the number of predators