Expressions and Gestures that Communicate Feelings and Intentions in Rhesus and Stump-tailed Macaques

Positive expressions/gestures

 

 

 Play face [blocks aggression]: "Let's play with each other!"

 

Reassurance gesture [left photo] and appeasement face [right photo]: "I am protecting you and try to appease those who harassed you."

 
Re-directed appeasement gesture: "The investigator has finally left our room! All is okay!"

 

 

Lipsmacking: mutual reassurance gesture after an alarming situation.

 

 

 
 Lipsmacking: "I like you but don't trust you completely."

 

 

Big smile [blocks aggression]

 
 Big smile [blocks aggression]: "It's nice to see you! I know that I can trust you. "

 
 Relaxed face: "We have no problems with you watching us."

 

 Relaxed face: "I know that I can trust you."

 
  

Relaxed face: "I like what you are doing with me."

 
 Subordination gesture [blocks aggression]: "I acknowledge that your are dominant and would like to be in your company."

Alert Face

 
 Alert face: "I am not quite sure if I can trust you, so you may want to re-consider what you intend to do with me."

 

 Alert face: "I am not quite sure if I can trust you."

Threat faces/gestures

Threat posture: "We will both attack if you don't flee quickly!"

 

Low intensity open-mouth threat: "I am fed up with you looking at us!"

High intensity open-mouth threat: "If you don't leave I will try to bite you!"

 

 

Low intensity open-mouth threat: "I am fed up with you looking at me!"

High intensity open-mouth threat: "Now I am really mad at you. Go away!"

 
Open-mouth threat: "I am scared and feel cornered and will not hesitate biting you in self-defense."

 

 

Open-mouth threat: "I am scared and feel cornered and will not hesitate biting you in self-defense."

 

High intensity open-mouth threat: "I am extremely frustrated. I am fed up with being imprisoned with no option of attacking you or escaping."

 

 
 Low intensity open-mouth treat: "You better don't touch this melon!"

 

 

 

Displacement yawning: "I feel a bit uncomfortable with you being around, but I have no aggressive intention right now." [Adult male rhesus macaque with infant companion]

 

 Self assured: "Look who I am!"

 

 A little bit scared: "I am ready to run away if needed."

 
 Raised eyebrow threat: "I am not very self-confident, but I still have the guts to threaten you."

 

 

 

Intense raised eyebrow and open-mouth threat: "I am very, very mad, but not necessarily ready to attack." 
 

Negative expressions

 
 Anxiety: "I am afraid because I don't know what you will do with me. If needed I will try to escape rather than attack you."

 

 Depression posture: "I am bored beyond imagination."

 
Fear grinning in response to being threatened [raised eyebrow threat] by dominant group member.

 

 

Fear grinning: "I am scared of you because you cause me pain. I would like to resort to aggressive self-defense but I don't dare."

 
  Fear grimace of a distressed animal.