Primate Vocalizations and Visual Displays
Pictures A, B, and C depict agnostic expressions (threat, aggression, submission) while picture D is a play face. Vocalizations typically coincide with visual displays, such as shrill barks, coos, and grunts.
A. Bared-teeth display – “fear grimace”; lips retracted so that teeth are shown; teeth are clenched; typical display of a subordinate monkey when intimated or attacked by higher ranking monkey- appeasement signal to reduce aggression (Cawthon Lang 2006)
Darla often exhibits this type of display when scared or aggressed by Newton.
B. Scream – mouth open wide
C. Open-mouth threat – lips in an “O” shape covering teeth; ears may be flat against head; typical display by a dominant individual towards lower ranking individual.
Darla exhibits this expression along with head bob towards anyone if they appear to look at her or in her general direction.
D. Relaxed open-mouth face – lips wider apart than threat expression with top lip covering teeth and bottom lip exposing teeth; play face
Written by Primate Care specialist Lindsay Towns at Fauna Foundation
(Image Parr and heintz 2009)