Uncovering the Complexity of Dolphin Facial Expressions: A Study on Playful Interactions

Bottlenose dolphins have been observed displaying a unique behavior – they “smile” at each other during playful interactions. A recent study published in iScience found that these marine mammals exhibit a wide open-mouthed expression, similar to human laughter or a monkey’s play face, to signal their interest in and willingness to engage in playful activities.

According to Dr. Elisabetta Palagi, one of the authors of the study, this “smile” is not just a random behavior but has evolved from biting behavior. During these interactions, dolphins will often adjust the shape of their rings of bubbles or swim through them, and occasionally destroy them with a quick bite.

These findings suggest that dolphins are capable of using facial expressions to signal their intentions and emotional states, similar to humans. It appears that they have developed a complex communication system that involves both vocalizations and visual cues, such as this “smile.”

The study observed 1,288 instances of open-mouthed displays in social play settings, with 92% occurring between dolphins engaging in interactive activities. Notably, these smiles were most often displayed when the intended audience could see it, indicating that they are intentional gestures.

In about one-third of cases, the observing dolphin would return the smile, demonstrating a deep understanding and recognition of this facial expression as a friendly cue.

Some may argue that dolphins mimic each other’s open-mouth expressions simply because they are in close proximity or engaged in similar activities. However, Dr. Palagi refutes this notion by highlighting the significant increase in mimicking when the receiver actually sees the original expression.

These findings have far-reaching implications for our understanding of playfulness and communication across species. They demonstrate that certain forms of nonverbal communication can transcend species boundaries, allowing us to better comprehend the emotional lives of dolphins and other animals.

In conclusion, it is evident that bottlenose dolphins use facial expressions to convey their intentions and emotional states in a manner that bears striking similarities to human behavior.

Source: http://www.forbes.com