Bottlenose dolphins 'smile' at each other while playing
By Jill Dando News
In a delightful discovery, researchers have found that bottlenose dolphins use a facial expression akin to a human smile to communicate during playtime.
The study, published in the journal iScience, sheds new light on how these intelligent marine mammals interact socially.
Evolutionary biologist Elisabetta Palagi and her team at the University of Pisa observed captive bottlenose dolphins engaging in various playful activities, including acrobatics, surfing, and chasing.
They discovered that dolphins frequently display an "open mouth" expression, similar to a smile, when playing with their peers.
Interestingly, the dolphins were selective about when they used this expression.
They almost always "smiled" when in their playmate's field of view, and an impressive 33% of the time, their companions responded by mirroring the expression.
"We've uncovered a distinct facial display in bottlenose dolphins and showed that they can mirror each other's expressions," Palagi explained. This behavior draws parallels to other mammals, suggesting that visual communication plays a crucial role in complex social interactions across species.
The researchers recorded a staggering 1,288 "smile" events during dolphin-to-dolphin play sessions, compared to just one instance during solitary play.
This stark contrast highlights the social significance of the expression.
While the study focused on visual cues, the researchers acknowledge the potential role of vocalizations in dolphin communication. "Dolphins have developed one of the most intricate vocal systems in the animal world," noted zoologist Livio Favaro, suggesting that future research should explore how dolphins combine visual and acoustic signals during play.
This charming discovery not only enhances our understanding of dolphin behavior but also reinforces the similarities between humans and these beloved marine mammals.
It seems that, like us, dolphins know the value of a good smile during playtime!
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