Short Wave SURPRISE! It's A...Babbling Baby Bat?
Oct 1, 2021
Discover the surprising connections between the babbling of human infants and greater sac-winged bats. Researchers find that both species share rhythmic vocal patterns, suggesting an evolutionary link in communication. Humorous anecdotes about childhood babbling lead the discussion, while listener feedback adds a communal touch to the exploration of these fascinating animal sounds. Tune in for insights into how early vocal behavior might pave the way for complex speech in both bats and humans!
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Matt's First Word
- Rebecca Ramirez's brother, Matt, babbled a lot as a baby.
- His first word, reportedly at six months old, was "McDonald's" because his older brother worked there.
Bat Babbling
- A recent study published in Science found similarities between baby babbling and bat babbling.
- The study focuses on the greater sac-winged bat, a species found in Central and South America.
Discovering Bat Babbling
- Researcher Miriam Knornschild first noticed bat babbling, and her PhD student Ahana Fernandez also observed it.
- Fernandez studies these bats in Central America, waking up before dawn to record their babbling.