Dolphins, including bottles, showed the ability to be a social "smile", which is used to invite to play with other dolphins. This was known through a new research published in Iscience, which sheds light on the complex social interactions of these intelligent marine mammals.
It is noted that biologists from the University of Pisa (Italy) have found that dolphins-fingins use facial expressions similar to a smile to show others their desire to play a little together.
Dolphins like to play, jumping out of the water, riding on the waves, playing things in the water, chasing one after the other and simulating a fight. An open mouth may be an invitation to these games, which scientists consider an analogue of a human smile. Other members of the group often correspond to the same "facial expressions".
We have found a clear face, open mouth, to botsters, and we showed that dolphins are also able to reflect the facial expression. Open mouth signals and rapid facial expressions repeatedly appear in the mammalian genealogical tree, which indicates that visual communication has played a crucial role in the formation of complex social interactions not only in dolphins, but also in many species
Scientists have also found an interesting pattern. Although dolphins are eager to come in contact with people, they used a "smile" only in communicating with each other, and not with people. When the dolphin is alone, he also does not "smile".
Researchers recorded 1288 "smiles" when dolphins played together and only one when the dolphin played alone.
The open mouth gesture probably developed from biting, breaking the sequence of biting to leave only "intention to bite" without contact. A relaxed open mouth that can be seen in social carnivorous animals, playing monkeys and even human laughter, is a universal feature of playfulness, helping animals - and we - to show fun and avoid conflicts,
