Evolution of Primate V olution of Primate Vocal Reper ocal Repertoires: Vocalization Systems as ocalization Systems as Embodied Capital for Mediating Within-group Conflict

Eric Schniter and Mateo Peñaherrera-Aguirre
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Mateo Peñaherrera-Aguirre: University of Arizona

Working Papers from Chapman University, Economic Science Institute

Abstract: Phylogenetic studies of communication help us understand evolutionary changes that led to human language – a form of primate communication, extraordinarily complex in terms of its varied vocalizations. Here we describe the macro-evolutionary role of life history traits on primate vocalization systems, informing our understanding of the relationships between social complexity and primate vocal repertoire size. We reviewed the primatological literature and collected information on the vocal repertoire size, social conflict, group size, endocranial volume, and maximum longevity of 42 non-human primate species. We conducted a set of analyses and found positive and significant relationships among these factors that played a role in the macroevolution of vocal repertoire size over the course of primate evolution. Maximum longevity predicts a species’ endocranial volume, endocranial volume predicts a species group size, group size predicts the species’ within-group conflict, and within-group conflict predicts a species’ vocal repertoire size. Overall, the results strongly suggest that the costly life history traits needed to support larger vocal repertoires have been selected for among haplorhine primates, especially hominoids: Large vocal repertoires help large brained species cope with challenges of within-group conflict and cooperation that increase where larger groups have evolved with longer lifespans. While monkeys and apes likely developed substantially greater vocal complexity during the Late Miocene and the Early Pliocene, human language likely did not emerge until quite late in the primate evolutionary timeline, subsequent to the evolution of early hominins.

Keywords: vocal repertoire; primates; language; macroevolution; phylogenetic method (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B52 D83 Y8 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:chu:wpaper:23-16

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