*A new study published in the journal *Animal Behaviour* proposes a radical change in how animal facial expressions are defined and studied.*

Traditional approaches to studying animal facial expressions have focused on identifying and categorizing specific facial movements, such as smiles, frowns, and bared teeth.

However, argue the authors of this new study, this approach is too limited and does not capture the full complexity of animal communication.

Instead, they propose that animal facial expressions should be studied in the context of the animal's overall behavior and environment. This approach, they argue, will provide a more comprehensive understanding of how animals communicate and interact with each other.

To support their argument, the authors present evidence from their own research on chimpanzees. They found that chimpanzees use a variety of facial expressions to communicate different emotions and intentions.

For example, a chimpanzee may bare its teeth to show aggression, but it may also do so to play or flirt. The meaning of the facial expression depends on the context in which it is used.

The authors also found that chimpanzees' facial expressions are influenced by their social environment. For example, chimpanzees that live in large groups tend to use more complex facial expressions than chimpanzees that live in smaller groups.

These findings suggest that animal facial expressions are not simply innate behaviors, but are also learned and influenced by the environment. This is an important consideration for researchers who study animal communication.

The authors conclude that the traditional approach to studying animal facial expressions is too limited and does not capture the full complexity of animal communication. Instead, they propose that animal facial expressions should be studied in the context of the animal's overall behavior and environment.

This approach will provide a more comprehensive understanding of how animals communicate and interact with each other.