Poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox once wrote: “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; cry, and you cry alone. ” These words are more relevant than ever. Recent research shows that there are many more species of animals laughing than was previously known. So the next time you start giggling, just remember that there are dozens of passers-by laughing with you. All jokes aside, according to a 2020 study published in the magazine. Bioacoustics, about 65 animals laugh while playing. Until recently, laughter was considered a specific human phenomenon. We now know that laughter is a rare but legal behavior among certain groups of animals. In particular, primates, rodents, birds and large mammals have the best sense of humor. On the other hand, amphibians, reptiles and fish just don’t get the joke.
With this revelation in mind, we thought it might be worth tickling your funny bone by presenting you with a list of 10 laughing animals. We can’t promise to cool it down with animal puns, but we’ll do our best. Get ready to laugh and laugh, because there are ten animals that can laugh.
# 10: Parrot Kea
Kea is a large parrot species from the South Island of New Zealand. They are known to be very intelligent and curious birds and often exhibit playful behavior. They love to do aerial acrobatics and chase each other. Sometimes they even throw objects at each other or play with them with their beaks and feet. Keas will trill when he is happy, especially when playing with other members of his species. However, kea sometimes makes this sound on its own, indicating that it might be a sound of pleasure. At the same time, laughter is contagious, and this seems to be true for kea. When kea hears the sound of another kea playing, he also spontaneously begins to exhibit play behavior. It is as if hearing another kea laugh and laugh, kea catches a giggle within earshot.
# 9: Dolphin
Of all the marine mammals, dolphins seem to be the only ones who really know how to relax and laugh. Dolphins make a certain sound when they play, which they usually do not make in any other context. This sound, which is best described as a series of impulses accompanied by a whistle, occurs only when dolphins are fighting each other. In addition, dolphins do not make this sound when they fight aggressively, indicating that the sound has nothing to do with fighting. Based on this evidence, scientists have determined that sound is a vocalization of pleasure. At the very least, the sound is a sign that the dolphin’s actions are not dangerous. In a way, dolphins laugh to let each other know that they are okay. Laughing, they communicate their intentions and prevent a possible confrontation with another dolphin.
# 8: chimpanzees
Among all laughing animals, this phenomenon is most often observed and understood in primates. Along with some species of monkeys, most primates laugh, play, rudely, or tickle each other. For example, both wild and captive chimpanzees laugh in a playful manner. Unlike human laughter, chimpanzees usually breathe heavily while laughing, alternating with deep breaths in and out. Screeching is another sound chimpanzees make when they laugh, especially when they are tickled. They can also laugh out loud when surprised by another chimpanzee. If one chimpanzee laughs, another chimpanzee will sometimes laugh in response to another chimp laugh. In addition, chimpanzees who do not know each other laugh more often than well-known chimpanzees. This indicates that chimpanzees are using laughter as a way to ease stressful situations and let off steam. Through this behavior, chimpanzees use laughter as a social lubricant to increase group cohesion.
# 7: elephant
Elephants form tight-knit herds of related family members and have a high level of intelligence. They can perform complex tasks, manipulate tools, and recognize themselves, humans, and other elephants. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that elephants are also on the list of laughing animals. Elephants often exhibit playful behavior and may push or poke fun at each other. In addition, during play, elephants can make a sound similar to a human giggling. Another common vocalization that elephants make when they are happy is to trumpet trumpets. All these data support the notion that elephants can laugh. In addition, since the elephant “never forgets,” it is highly likely that he always remembers the best jokes.
# 6: Australian magpie
The Australian magpie is a medium-sized black and white songbird from Australia and New Guinea. It is widely regarded as one of the most talented songbirds in its region, as it can make a wide variety of intricate sounds. He not only imitates human speech, but also laughs while playing. To be precise, Australian magpies talk to each other while playing and only make these sounds while playing. Considering that they can emit a huge amount of vocalizations, this might just be a coincidence, but it definitely indicates that they can laugh. At least Australian magpies love to talk about how much fun they have, which makes sense given how much they like the sound of their own voice.
# 5: Rat
Few animals in human history have been observed, analyzed, and dissected as much as rats. Because they often act as “laboratory rats,” scientists have many opportunities to observe the response of rats to certain stimuli. Unsurprisingly, scientists have found that rats make a long ultrasonic chirping sound when played rough or tickled. This sound is similar to laughter, and the rats who laugh the most prefer to spend time with others who laugh. In addition to laughing while playing or tickling, rats also chirp before taking drugs or during intercourse. As a result, most scientists view this behavior as a reaction to a positive experience, much like the way children laugh when they are having fun.
# 4: bonobos
Although bonobos are often mixed with their primate cousins, chimpanzees, they are a distinct species with their own unique appearance and behavior. Bonobos communities are characterized by a complex social structure, and unlike other primates, bonobos groups have much less male dominance and more power between females. This more egalitarian structure may help explain why bonobos are among the loudest of all primates. They used a wide variety of vocalizations, including a hoarse, hoarse laugh. Like their primate cousins, bonobos laugh while playing and also when tickled. According to research, bonobos’ laughter follows the same pattern as the laughter of a human child, and includes similar facial expressions. Even at puberty, they remain playful and will laugh and collaborate even with unfamiliar bonobos in certain situations.
# 3: dog
At some point, every dog owner would tell their puppy a joke to try to make him laugh. While this may sound silly, it is not entirely insane as dogs have the ability to laugh. When dogs laugh, they choke in a rhythmic rhythm of bursts of different frequencies. In some cases, these pants may even sound like human laughter. Scientists have found that reproducing these breathing sounds to other dogs initiates spontaneous play, improves social behavior, and reduces stress. Dogs not only laugh, but also wag their tails when they are happy, and some have a “happy face” very similar to a human smile. So the next time your dog is in a bad mood, try telling him a joke and see if you find it hard to breathe, smile, or lick your face hard from your efforts.
# 2: gorilla
In addition to being the largest and most powerful monkey, the gorilla can also earn the title of best comedian. While evidence suggests that gorillas laugh when they play or are tickled, there are also many examples of gorillas telling tricky anecdotes. For example, Coco, a famous gorilla who has learned over 1000 signs, often used signs to joke with her mentor and caretaker Francine Patterson. At their core, humor and comedy are forms of symbolic play in which words and actions are used to represent certain emotions and experiences. With this in mind, it’s logical to assume that gorillas could learn to tell jokes using sign language. In one joke, Coco answered the question, “What do you think about this difficult thing?” with the sign “work”. On another occasion, she tied the laces of her sneakers together and then signed that the trainer should “chase her.”
# 1: Degu
Degu is a small chinchilla-like or guinea pig-like rodent that lives in certain neotropical regions of Chile. Extremely social creatures, degus live in intricate burrows containing many members and use a large number of vocalizations. In total, they can make up to 15 different sounds and distinguish between individual degu voices. Given their advanced communication skills, it should come as no surprise that degus belong to a small number of laughing animals. While laughing, a degu typically emits a high-pitched purr or grunt, either during play or when pleased. To top it off, degus sometimes “chuckle” in their sleep. While there is no clear reason for this behavior, we like to think it’s because degus love to practice their comedy routines in their sleep.