Animal Communication Is Far More Complex Than We Thought

How mammals communicate involves a combination of facial expressions, body language, gestures, and vocalization that can convey emotions and social status, and is not just random vocalization or a reflex. Such communication can coordinate group activities and help in maintaining social status and hierarchies in a group, which is a process called multimodal communication. Facial expressions and vocalizations in a group take place simultaneously, which helps the group interpret an animal's inner state and respond in an appropriate manner. The communication process in mammals has evolved to support a complex social life, according to research published in the journal Animals.

Facial expression is one of the most subtle forms of communication, as seen in Rhesus macaque monkeys. They perform a gesture known as the “silent bared teeth”, in which a subordinate individual shows its teeth without any aggression, which signals that it is bowing down to a dominant group member. Researchers have shown that this signal helps in reducing tension within social groups and prevents unnecessary fights, according to a publication in Animals. Facial expressions, along with body posture, are a means of communicating rank and intent in grey wolf packs. Wolves that are dominant always hold their heads high with ears forward, while the submissive ones lower their bodies and avoid eye contact, which helps in maintaining order within the pack without physical conflict.

Vocal signs play an important role, especially for animals living in large groups. The primate Mandrill emits a range of vocalizations, which include grunts and roars that could help in coordinating movement and ensuring that the group is cohesive across forest environments. Some primates, such as common marmosets, show even more sophisticated vocal patterns. Studies have found that they use structured vocal exchanges that resemble conversational turn-taking. These vocal interactions could mean an early evolutionary foundation for conversational communication, as suggested by a research paper published on arXiv.


The Spotted hyena uses physical gestures and posture to reinforce social hierarchy within clans, which let individuals communicate their intentions quickly without producing loud vocal calls that could attract predators (MDPI Animals journal). Emotions themselves may act as a biological communication system, as shown by research in animals such as dogs and dolphins. They can recognize emotional signals in others by interpreting vocal tones, body posture, and facial expressions, which helps strengthen social bonds among group-living mammals (MDPI Animals journal).

One such interaction has been coloring of the way some species communicate. Take the domesticated dog, for example. Over thousands of years of domestication, the domesticated dog has become incredibly attuned to human interactions, and it is not an accident. Scientists hypothesize that the domesticated dog has gradually rewired its communication to better interact with humans. When you look at the larger picture, it is easy to see that mammalian communication is a complex form of interaction that has evolved over thousands of years. Thus, we gain valuable insight into how animal societies interact with one another by studying these interactions among animals.