What are some common baboon facial expressions?
Baboons have very expressive faces, and use them extensively to signal intent and mood. This in combination with social context, vocalisation and body language gives them a rich social communication skillset.
False yawning: Male baboons do an exaggerated, wide-jawed yawn as a dominance display. This shows other males the size and sharpness of their canines as a warning not to challenge the yawner.
Fear grimace: All baboons display this expression of fear or worry. They pull their lips back and expose their clenched teeth as a sign of submission or respect.
Raised eyebrows: It can be used in conjunction with staring, or a canine flash, but even without, raised eyebrows from one male to another represent a challenge or threat.
Flashing eyebrows: Rapid eyebrow raising is a signal from a sexually available female, designed to elicit interest from a male.
Challenge staring: Male baboons fix their rivals with a menacing stare. To enhance the effect, he could also raise his eyebrows and move his ears back, revealing different coloured hair under his eyes. All of this sends a clear message of ‘don’t mess with me’.
Flirtatious staring: A male who is interested in a fertile female may fix her with a prolonged and appealing stare.
Frowning: A furrowed brow and narrowed eyes can indicate irritation, confusion or concentration.
Close-eyed yawning: A sign of relaxation.
Smiling: A relaxed show of teeth, displayed in non-aggressive situations like grooming or playing, and sometimes shared between mothers and infants in moments of closeness.
Eye narrowing: Partially closed or narrowed eyes, sometimes with raised eyebrows, are a sign of suspicion, often in social situations.
Canine display: Sometimes presented by a lower-ranking male to test a male of higher rank who is consorting with a female. A quick flash of the teeth serves as a threat
Rapid glancing: This involves turning the head away from a threat display and breaking eye contact in an effort to defuse the tension.