In Madagascar, scientists discovered that indri lemurs use an almost singing-like technique.
When they need to produce a particularly high-pitched sound, they open their mouths wider. This changes the shape of the vocal tract, and the call comes out louder and carries better through the forest.
Almost like opera singers: the higher the note, the wider the mouth.
What's more, indris generally love to perform collectively. They can sing in duets and whole family choirs, calling back and forth among the trees.
So it turns out that somewhere in the forests of Madagascar, a free concert takes place every morning:
one lemur hits a high note,
a second one picks it up,
the rest of the family joins in as a chorus.
No microphones, no music school, no rehearsals.
Just open your mouth wider — and you're already a soprano.
All that's left is to wait for scientists to discover a conductor among them.
Indris are generally considered to be among the most musical primates. They sing in intricate duets and in whole family "choirs," and their voices carry through the forest over great distances.
They also have their own version of the game "Marco Polo." If the animals lose sight of one another, one calls out and another answers — and so the group comes back together again.
So while humans spend years studying voice, learning to breathe properly and to place their voice, lemurs simply sit in a tree, open their mouths wider — and give a concert for all of Madagascar.
Only one thing remains to be found out: when tickets go on sale for the first lemur opera house. 🎶
