Dolphins' Playful Smiles: A Glimpse into Marine Mammals' Social Interactions

Researchers have discovered that dolphins use open-mouthed expressions akin to smiles during play, similar to social primates and carnivores. 92% of these smiles occur during play with other dolphins, highlighting visual communication's role in social interactions across various species.

Dolphins might just be smiling at each other, according to researchers who studied their playful interactions through hours of video footage. The University of Pisa team observed that dolphins often engage in open-mouthed expressions that could be interpreted as smiles during social play with peers and human trainers.

The study, analyzing 1,288 instances of these smiles, revealed that 92% occurred during playful encounters between dolphins, especially when both dolphins were visible to each other. This behavior mirrors the mimicry seen in social primates and other carnivores, highlighting a universal visual communication method.

Lead researcher Elisabetta Palagi suggests that these behaviors have evolved from common mammalian actions to convey playfulness. The dolphins' ability to 'smile' and mimic reflects their complex social interactions and emphasizes the pivotal role of visual signals in marine mammals' playfulness.

(With inputs from agencies.)