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Scientists in Costa Rica have discovered baby-bat babbling is similar to that of human babies. The bat pups produce rhythmic sounds and repeat key "building-block syllables", which suggests that their babbling lays the foundations for communication styles as they get older. Researcher Dr Ahana Fernandez from the Museum of Natural History in Berlin says that the rhythm is very similar to the "da-da-da" sounds of human babies. She's observed that the pups start babbling from when they are around two weeks old, encouraged by interactions from their mum, and imitate the sounds of adult 'tutor' bats. Photo: The greater sac-winged bat Credit: Michael Stifter