Which three predators are distinguished by vervet monkey alarm calls?

Vervet monkey alarm calls distinguish leopards, eagles and snakes.

Vervet monkeys produce different alarm calls for major predators. A leopard alarm can prompt monkeys to climb into trees, an eagle alarm can cause them to look upward or seek cover, and a snake alarm can trigger vigilance on the ground. The calls therefore carry information about the type of danger, not merely a general warning.

This behavior became influential in discussions of animal communication because researchers found that receivers respond differently to different calls. The calls are often described as meaningful or referential, although scientists debate how closely they resemble human language.

Vervet monkeys live across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Their alarm system is shaped by local ecology, and responses can depend on the caller, the receiver and the immediate surroundings. The classic trio is leopards, eagles and snakes—not every predator found in the monkey’s habitat.