Question

Vervet monkeys use different alarm calls to warn each other of nearby predators, depending on whether the danger comes from land or from the air.

Which one of the following, if true, contributes most to an explanation of the behavior of vervet monkeys described above?


A. By varying the pitch of its alarm call, a vervet monkey can indicate the number of predators approaching.

B. Different land-based predators are responsible for different numbers of vervet monkey deaths.

C. No predators that pose a danger to vervet monkeys can attack both from land and from the air.

D. Vervet monkeys avoid land-based predators by climbing trees but avoid predation from the air by diving into foliage.

E. Certain land-based predators feed only on vervet monkeys, whereas every predator that attacks vervet monkeys from the air feeds on many different animals.

Answer 1

Vervet monkeys use different alarm calls to indicate the type of predator, with specific reactions to each call, suggesting a form of language use. They climb trees to escape land predators and dive into foliage for aerial threats, as described in Option D.

Step-by-step explanation:

The behavior of vervet monkeys using different alarm calls depending on the type of predator can best be explained by understanding their specific responses to these calls. For instance:

1. When vervet monkeys hear a "leopard" call, they tend to climb higher in the trees as a means of escaping ground predators.
2. Upon hearing an "eagle" call, vervet monkeys dive into the foliage to hide from airborne threats.
3. In the case of a "snake" call, the monkeys engage in more vigilant ground-based scanning.

Given these tailored responses, it is argued that the vervet monkeys are, in some respects, using a form of language. Their ability to use distinct calls for different threats and react accordingly shows a complex level of communication that transcends simple instinctual sound-making. This behavior underlines both the adaptive value of such communication and the cognitive capabilities of vervet monkeys in the context of their survival strategies. Option D, which states that vervet monkeys avoid land-based predators by climbing trees but avoid predation from the air by diving into foliage, provides the most compelling explanation for why different alarm calls are beneficial to the monkeys.