Is Lipsmacking an Indicator of Social Status in Baboons?

Abstract

Lipsmacking is performed by many Old World monkey species, and some studies of baboons and macaques suggest that lipsmacking may be associated with social status. We studied 60 adult anubis baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis) for 18 months, measured social status and the rate of lipsmacking, and used these data to test the hypothesis that lipsmacking is related to social status. Our results indicate that social status and lipsmacking were not significantly correlated for either males or females. Analysis of lipsmacking in relation to social class (high vs. low) showed no significant difference between status classes for either sex. Lipsmacking was, however, found to be positively associated with affinitive behaviors. These results suggest that baboon lipsmacking provides positive social communication independently of social status.

Facial displays in red-capped mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus): Repertoire, social context, and potential intentionality.

“…We note that most of the above-cited facial displays described, except “stick tongue out,” were preferentially or exclusively produced in social contexts. Lipsmacks were produced in affiliative and grooming contexts, as found for instance in olive baboons ( Papio anubis : Easley & Coelho, 1991), but also in nonsocial contexts, especially during auto-grooming. This enabled us to hypothesize that lipsmacking may be an automatic response to grooming actions and, as for nonsocial production of yawns, might indicate a prominent emotional component driving the production of this facial display.…”

“…Dominance relationships between subjects were determined to evaluate their effect on the production of facial expressions. Dominance relationships were based on avoidance behaviors only (see “contact rupture behaviors”: Baraud, 2007), as physical aggressions were too rare to be used systematically (Easley & Coelho, 1991). All avoidance behaviors involving focal subjects were analyzed.…”

“…avoidance behaviors only (see "contact rupture behaviors": Baraud, 2007), as physical aggressions were too rare to be used systematically (Easley & Coelho, 1991). All avoidance behaviors involving focal subjects were analyzed.…”

Facial Expression in Nonhuman Animals

“…The "lipsmack" expression, for example, is a dynamic display found in many old-world monkeys, particularly macaques and baboons, but not apes or new-world monkeys ( van Hooff, 1967). "Lipsmacking" is a dynamic display where the lips are protruded and smacked together rapidly (often producing an auditory element), and is associated with affinitive behaviours (Easley & Coelho, 1991).…”

Context-Dependent Gestural Laterality: A Multifactorial Analysis in Captive Red-Capped Mangabeys

“…In order to assess the effect of social factors on the hand used to gesture, we characterized the relationship between the signaler and the receiver in terms of dominance and kinship. Dominance was deduced from avoidance behaviors [ 86 ], i.e., turning away from another individual, avoiding an individual by changing direction, avoiding contact by moving a body part away from the proximity of another individual, or fleeing an individual by walking or running in opposed direction [ 87 ]. All avoidance behaviors involving focal subjects were analyzed, and, when at least 3 occurrences were observed for a dyad, we computed the percentage of avoidance of subject A from subject B over the total number of these behaviors between A and B [ 88 ].…”