Dolphins smile at playmates to signal friendliness. INFOGRAPHIC.

Dolphins smile at playmates to signal friendliness by Michael Broad

The Dolphin smile is something that we have seen a lot of. Interestingly, the researchers found that dolphins did not use the open-mouthed gesture while playing with humans. It almost always takes place between two dolphins when they can see each other. I say “interestingly” because you will see photographs of aquariums where the aquarian keeper plays with a dolphin and the dolphin emerges from the water smiling. So, it appears to me that dolphins do smile at humans under certain artificial situations where they are playing with humans.

It is what endears them to us. We love to see this dolphin smile. We are very fond of dolphins generally and we like their intelligence. Elisabetta Palagi, the lead author of the research, said:

“Since ancient times, humans have always been attracted to dolphins. In the Naturalis Historica [by the Roman writer Pliny the Elder], the first Encyclopaedia of the world, we can find a story about the friendship between a boy and a dolphin. As a whole, the key to such empathic attraction mainly resides in the friendly appearance of these smiling animals.”

Both whales and dolphins evolved from land mammals that moved back to live in the sea. The Times author of the report that I am reading, suggests that researchers might find it valuable to examine whether other descendants of these mammals including camels, boars and deer for example can also use facial expressions as a form of communication. Meerkats and bears also employ this friendly facial expression.

More: Young male dolphins play practise their flirtation skills together

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Post Category: Marine wildlife > dolphins