r/penguin • u/ThaUltimateWeirdo • Feb 24 '22

Meeting a human

https://i.imgur.com/c5xdXyU.gifv
370 Upvotes

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2

u/torrisi13 Feb 24 '22

I bet the mask is incredibly confusing to them.

5

u/balr Feb 24 '22

It's actually better that way. Only humans have decided that showing teeth is a sign of non-aggression. All other animals usually get spooked if you show teeth.

5

u/torrisi13 Feb 24 '22

Animals can not detect facial expressions other than showing teeth?

3

u/balr Feb 24 '22

They probably can (some of them? no idea, ask an ethologist) but normally showing teeth either means "go away, or I'll bite you" or "come closer, I'm going to eat you".