How Bizarre Anthropology

Minutes after encountering danger, lemurs yawn

Madagascar primates’ behavior may indicate return to calmness

lemur yawning

OPEN WIDE  Lemurs start yawning within 10 minutes of encountering threats in the wild, researchers say. These dangers may cause only moderate stress from which lemurs quickly recover, sparking yawns.

Tanvir.Nottingham/Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Lemurs don’t yawn in the face of danger. They wait a few minutes after perils have passed before breaking into breathy mouth gapes.