Given that smiling/laughing is a primal instinct that we do not do on purpose (babies laugh when they are happy) to express happiness and joy, are there any other species that do the same?
In: Biology
Chimpanzees definitely laugh. When a chimpanzee smiles out of joy you can’t see its upper teeth. When they make a very toothy “grin” it’s sometimes called a “fear grimace”. Lower ranking males will sometimes approach and display a fear grimace to a high ranking male to demonstrate “hey I’m not a threat.” Hierarchy and rank is very important in chimp society!
Humans aren’t the only animals to express joy through laughter-like behaviour. Certain primates, especially chimpanzees and bonobos, show expressions similar to human smiles or laughter. They produce vocalizations resembling laughter, particularly during play. These behaviors are believed to signal social bonding and pleasure. Dolphins have been observed making playful, happy sounds, which some interpret as a form of laughter or joyous expression. Dogs also engage in “play panting,” which can be considered a form of laughter during play.
Wolves smile and laugh as well as joking. I lived and worked with a six generation pack of wolves for over thirty years. They have quite a bit of language, a sensor humor, count, do basic math and are gossips.
Were not the only creatures who show signs of joy. Chimpanzees and gorillas, have been observed smiling and laughing. They often do this when playing with each other or engaging in social interactions. Dogs are famous for their wagging tails and happy faces.
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