Mom-Pup Vocal Recognition

Cape fur seal pup. Hans Hillewaert, via Wikimedia Commons.

Researchers used audio playback shortly after birth to investigate the development of mother-pup vocal recognition in Cape fur seals. They found that mothers recognize their pup’s voice 2-4 hours after birth, and pups recognize their mother’s voice 4-6 hours after birth. This is the fastest establishment of mother-offspring vocal recognition for any mammal species (including humans) described to date.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: Rapid Vocal Recognition in Fur Seal Moms and Pups.