Yawn, Yawn, Yawn: Emotional Closeness in Wolves and Other Species

     Here's hoping this post will make you yawn. 

       Researchers at the University of Tokyo collected data to show that yawns among wolves are related to emotional connection between individuals. The stronger the bond-- the more likely the yawn. The research is discussed here.

        There's evidence of interspecies transfer when it comes to yawns as well.

      

       Savor the etymology of yawn:

c.1300, yenen, yonen, from Old English ginian, gionian "open the mouth wide, yawn, gape," from Proto-Germanic *gin- (cognates: Old Norse gina "to yawn," Dutch geeuwen, Old High German ginen, German gähnen "to yawn"), from PIE *ghai- "to yawn, gape" (cognates: Old Church Slavonic zijajo "to gape," Lithuanian žioju, Czech zivati "to yawn," Greek khainein, Latin hiare "to yawn, gape," Sanskrit vijihite "to gape, be ajar"). Modern spelling is from 16c.

       May your day have lots of  yawns with whatever species you encounter today.

Here's to many more yawns,

Steph

And, seen at the Smith President's House yesterday (not far from the river otters):