Scientists have discovered that belugas, a type of whale, have the unique ability to change their facial expressions in order to better communicate their emotions. This behavior, known as mimicry, is used by belugas to convey information through echolocation. The phenomenon of beluga mimicry has only recently begun to be studied by researchers.

The National Aquarium in the USA conducted a year-long study on a pair of beluga whales in the underwater exhibit at Mystic Aquarium. The researchers closely observed and documented the behavior of the whales, and their findings were published by Naked Science. Additional observations were also conducted on three groups of belugas at Marineland, a theme park in Canada. The results showed that the belugas’ facial expressions varied depending on the situation and environment.

During the observations, the researchers recorded a total of 2570 instances where the belugas’ facial expressions changed. These changes occurred more frequently when the whales were interacting with other belugas, as opposed to when they were within the view of humans. The researchers also noted that certain facial features, such as the eyes, were more mobile than others, like the fins or flippers. Specifically, the belugas of the Delphinapterus leucas species, commonly known as white whales, actively modified their mimicry to communicate with other members of their group.

The researchers identified five different types of changes in the belugas’ facial expressions during their observations: gaping, raising, puckering, pursing, and wrinkling. These behaviors were found to indicate specific emotions or intentions. For example, belugas would pucker or wrinkle their foreheads during mating displays, or pucker and purse their lips to move their heads purposefully.

However, scientists have yet to fully understand the meaning behind these facial expressions or determine if belugas have reflexes associated with them. The possibility of these expressions being a form of communication between belugas, or being connected to other social behaviors, has not been ruled out. Additionally, belugas use “body language” by making various vocalizations to express their emotions, including squealing, chirping, whistling, and even growling. Interestingly, they also use “tongue language,” using water jets to manipulate the fluid-dynamic qualities of their tongues.

Research published in Animal Cognition states that studying beluga mimicry is an important step in comprehending their overall communication. These highly social animals utilize over 50 different vocalizations to communicate, including buzzing, clicking, whistling, chirping, moaning, squealing, and even imitating laughter.

In conclusion, the research conducted by American scientists, and published in Animal Cognition, greatly contributes to the understanding of belugas’ communication. These findings further emphasize the complexity of belugas’ social behavior and their ability to convey emotions and intentions through facial expressions.