This is what it sounds like when apes laugh

Posted by Cory Doctorow, June 4, 2009 11:32 AM |
Wanna hear primates laugh? It's infection, I guarantee it! Audio samples within.
Primatologist and psychologist Marina Davila Ross of the U.K.'s University of Portsmouth led a team that tickled the necks, feet, palms, and armpits of infant and juvenile apes as well as human babies. The team recorded more than 800 of the resulting giggles and guffaws.
Apes Laugh, Tickle Study Finds (Thanks, Marilyn!)
posted in: Audio ,  Happy Mutants ,  Science
Favorite This! (3)
Send this to a Friend
Older TOSBack: EFF's real-time tracker for changes in terms of service on popular Internet sites
Newer DC's buried gubmint s33kr17 wires patrolled by rapid-response goon-squad

Discussion

Take a look at this
#1 posted by NidSquid, June 4, 2009 11:47 AM

That was lovely. Nothing like the sound of laughter to make you smile.

I'd love to have that job: Ape Tickler.

Take a look at this
#3 posted by Anonymous, June 4, 2009 11:57 AM

... ApeLad, would you care to comment?!?

Ah ha!!

:P

Take a look at this
#4 posted by Doomstalk, June 4, 2009 12:01 PM

Much more pleasant than when doves cry.

Take a look at this
#5 posted by tallpat, June 4, 2009 12:20 PM

Tensegrity #2- looks like NG screwed up the links to the wma files... their specified location = http://192.168.2.240/news/images/thumbs/Bonobo-Laughter.wma instead of what it should be: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/images/thumbs/Bonobo-Laughter.wma

Take a look at this
#6 posted by gATO, June 4, 2009 1:25 PM

It's previously been argued that chimps chuckle, but their method —"laughing" on both the exhale and inhale— had been deemed too different from the human, exhale-only laugh.

it's obviously different from human laughter, but it does kinda sounds like when you snort while chuckling.

Take a look at this
#7 posted by wolfiesma, June 4, 2009 1:43 PM

I accidently let slip a little snort while laughing at something stupid yesterday and Wolfie stops in his tracks, "You're a pig, mom?" Hey, its better than this one times I was stepping into the tub and he says, "You're a hippo, mom?" What are you gonna do? Laugh! HAHA!

Take a look at this
#8 posted by Takuan, June 4, 2009 1:46 PM

haha! then you hold his little head under for a while.

Take a look at this
#9 posted by wolfiesma, June 4, 2009 1:49 PM

watch it, buster

Take a look at this
#10 posted by Takuan, June 4, 2009 1:52 PM

just long enough to teach him some respect

Take a look at this
#11 posted by arkizzle / Moderator, June 4, 2009 1:53 PM

These clips are great! You know when some one says, "it's a hoot, I guarantee it"? Well, I was sceptical. But the second that bonobo played, I lol'd for real, in that same way you do when someone else is dying of the giggles.. Brilliant! :)

Take a look at this
#12 posted by Anonymous, June 4, 2009 1:54 PM

sounds like the thing from eraserhead

Take a look at this
#13 posted by arkizzle / Moderator, June 4, 2009 1:55 PM

"Haha" @ (Wolfie + Wolfiesma) && "Haha" @ (Tak + Wolfiesma)

Take a look at this
#14 posted by Takuan, June 4, 2009 1:58 PM

I'm thinking of opening a day-care.

Take a look at this
#15 posted by TeddyC, June 4, 2009 2:03 PM

AUDIO LINKS IN STORY NOW WORKING!

Take a look at this
#16 posted by wolfiesma, June 4, 2009 2:04 PM

&Tak @14 Haha!

Take a look at this
#17 posted by Takuan, June 4, 2009 2:08 PM

aha..ahahhaha HAHAHAHAH!.....(snurk, wipe) yesss,
something like a military academy for toddlers, only crueler.

Take a look at this
#18 posted by apoxia, June 4, 2009 2:10 PM

I want to know why the researchers got funding from for this project. I can just imagine the grant application...

Take a look at this
#19 posted by arkizzle / Moderator, June 4, 2009 2:12 PM

"..something like a military academy for toddlers, only crueler."

Ah! That would be the Christain Brothers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregation_of_Christian_Brothers

Take a look at this
#20 posted by arkizzle / Moderator, June 4, 2009 2:13 PM

Dman.. spelt Christian wrong.

Take a look at this
#22 posted by arkizzle / Moderator, June 4, 2009 2:19 PM

Oh. Wait.

I'm going to very quickly say that the joke about the Christain Brothers was not at all about their most recent scandels (which, frankly, aren't very funny) but was about them running very harsh schools that weren't nice places to be. Just that. Because they weren't.

Take a look at this
#23 posted by arkizzle / Moderator, June 4, 2009 2:21 PM

Damn. I spelt Christian wrong again (and I'm not going to tell you how many typos I corrected in this comment).

Take a look at this
#25 posted by webmonkees, June 4, 2009 2:44 PM

Makes you wonder just what the monkeys are 'saying' in those recordings you can activate near the cages.. and what do the live monkeys think one of their siblings is up to just out of view?

Take a look at this
#26 posted by Tom Hale, June 4, 2009 2:55 PM

You're not trying to multi task are you Arkizzle? Only women can do that.

Take a look at this
#27 posted by daemonsquire, June 4, 2009 3:56 PM

Radio Lab had a segment about animal laughter, that included some chimp chuckles, in their Laughter episode last year.

Take a look at this
#28 posted by TroofSeeker, June 4, 2009 7:35 PM

Have you ever laughed so hard you just doubled over, unable to speak, or function, or even breathe? Sure you have. What a bazaar nervous convulsion! What is that about? What other animal goes into convulsions of joy?
It's fun tho. We love it. Frickin' bazaar creatures. No wonder the apes are laughing.

Take a look at this
#29 posted by Robert, June 5, 2009 8:02 AM

So is Cory a fan of Prince? Is that article title an homage?

Take a look at this
#30 posted by Anonymous, June 5, 2009 3:23 PM

Enter koala mating call into Youtube. Better.

Leave a comment

Name:
Anonymous