Many times I have done the tiger talk with our two boys, Troy and Blade. Part way through, I’ll be greeted with laughter and turn to see a familiar sight. What can easily be described as a cheesy grin on Blade’s face. Blade has always seemed to enjoy getting a reaction from visitors and will often wee up one of the windows when there is a crowd, much to the disgust and/or amusement of those the other side. It appears he has realised his smile will get the same result. However, while we sometimes question his motive for this there is a purpose for his ‘smile’.
The Flehmen Response
It is called the flehmen response. This is where the animal curls its top lip to expose its upper teeth. They will then inhale through their mouth, with some animals closing their nostrils while they do. Inside their mouth they have a vomeronasal organ (Jacobson’s organ) and the air is passed into this. They will often hold this position for a moment to really take in the scent. Unlike an animal’s sense of smell which is constantly active, the flehmen response has to be instigated.
This response is vital for the animal’s way of life. It allows them to analyse scent, picking out pheromones and hormones for example. This comes in very useful for a male who wants to check if a female is ready to mate. It will also let them explore their surroundings, familiarising themselves with them.
While the flehmen response is a common sight amongst cats it is not restricted to them. Horse owners will have likely seen this before but many other species around the park will also have this impressive organ. You may be lucky enough on your next visit to see it first hand!
