New research suggests that dogs and horses, despite their differences, can form playful partnerships and mimic each other’s facial expressions. This discovery, published in the journal Behavioural Processes, represents the first documented occurrence of rapid facial mimicry between playmates of different species, hinting at the existence of a universal language of play, as reported by National Geographic.
While the exact purpose of play remains uncertain, scientists believe that it helps animals develop hunting and social skills, alleviate stress, and foster relationships. Understanding the contexts in which diverse creatures engage in play, especially across different branches of the evolutionary tree, could provide valuable insights into the origins and evolution of this behavior. However, interspecies play has been relatively understudied, with only a handful of investigations involving humans and their pets.
In 2018, a YouTube video featuring a dog and a horse playing in sync caught the attention of Elisabetta Palagi, an animal behaviorist at the University of Pisa in Italy. Recognizing the potential for interspecies camaraderie, given that both dogs and horses have demonstrated the ability to recognize facial expressions in other animals, Palagi embarked on a comprehensive analysis of hundreds of video clips showcasing dogs and horses engaged in play.
After applying rigorous criteria, the research team identified 20 videos that met their requirements: unassisted play between animals, lasting at least 30 seconds, without human interference.
Several common patterns emerged from the analysis. Dogs and horses engaged in synchronized play, mirroring each other’s movements, including jumping, pushing, and playful nipping. They also assumed vulnerable positions such as rolling on their backs, exposing their throats and stomachs, indicating a state of ease and friendly communication.
Despite millions of years of evolutionary divergence, these two species exhibited remarkably similar approaches to playful interactions, suggesting that they had found common ground purely for the purpose of enjoyment, according to Palagi.
Another fascinating observation was the frequent mimicry of facial expressions between dogs and horses. Both species displayed relaxed, open mouths during play, a behavior previously observed in wild social primates but never documented between animals of different species.
Barbara Smuts, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Michigan, who was not involved in the study, highlights that while horses and dogs may differ significantly in appearance and behavior, they can still negotiate their play dynamics in a mutually comfortable manner. Fun, it seems, transcends the need for explicit teaching, allowing vastly dissimilar creatures to engage in play harmoniously.
