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Animals captured laughing and smiling on camera

ALL SMILES: From chuckling chimps to hysterical hyenas, these images reveal that animals also know how to put on a happy face.

A lemon shark shows off its pearly whites. Picture: Kenneth MacWilliams/Caters News
A lemon shark shows off its pearly whites. Picture: Kenneth MacWilliams/Caters News

NEED something to brighten your day? These endearing shots of animals having a hearty chuckle are sure to put a smile on your face.

The pictures, captured by photographers from all over the world, show us that humans are not the only ones who have a sense of humour. It seems all creatures great and small like to let loose and have a good belly laugh every now and then.

Two orang-utans appear to crack each other up. Picture: Caters News Agency
Two orang-utans appear to crack each other up. Picture: Caters News Agency
A Zebra appears to Photobomb his friends by pulling a silly face. Picture: Lincoln G Harris/Caters News
A Zebra appears to Photobomb his friends by pulling a silly face. Picture: Lincoln G Harris/Caters News

While animals don’t necessarily express their emotions the same way we do, several species in the animal kingdom are known to emit vocalisation that sound a lot like human laughter. When playing or being tickled, apes, such as chimpanzees, gorillas and orang-utans, emit sounds that closely resemble laughter. Similarly animals such as birds (particularly the kookaburra), dogs and even rats make laughter-type sounds — each in their own unique way.

Among the incredible side-splitting photos are a mischievous-looking macaque monkey snapping a selfie, a gorilla bearing his pearly whites in a big cheeky grin, and a cheetah with his head thrown back mid-chuckle.

Baby Kituba monkeying around with his mum Lena at the Dublin Zoo. Picture: Caters News Agency
Baby Kituba monkeying around with his mum Lena at the Dublin Zoo. Picture: Caters News Agency
A cheetah cub having a good laugh at the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Picture: Mogens Trolle/Caters News
A cheetah cub having a good laugh at the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Picture: Mogens Trolle/Caters News

There’s also a picture of an animal known for its riotous laughter, the hyena, who looks like he’s just heard the punchline of a dirty joke.

A hyena in Serengeti, Tanzania howls with laughter. Picture: Yaron Schmid/Caters News
A hyena in Serengeti, Tanzania howls with laughter. Picture: Yaron Schmid/Caters News
Never smile at a crocodile — unless he’s smiling at you. Picture: Stefan Meyers/Ardea/Caters News
Never smile at a crocodile — unless he’s smiling at you. Picture: Stefan Meyers/Ardea/Caters News
A seal amuses himself as he lies on a rock. Picture: Veronica Craft/Caters News
A seal amuses himself as he lies on a rock. Picture: Veronica Craft/Caters News

But it’s not just land animals who have a case of the giggles — creatures who live in underwater have been caught in various states of hilarity too.

Even those with a fear of sharks won’t be able to help but have a laugh at the lemon shark who is pictured facing the camera with a toothy smirk plastered across his face.

These animals might be on to something — perhaps laughter really is the best medicine.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/animals-captured-laughing-and-smiling-on-camera/news-story/7a867474681b83bfeb74941118714776