You’ve seen them. Those viral photos where a macaque or a chimpanzee looks right into the lens and flashes a toothy, ear-to-ear grin. It’s adorable. We immediately think, "Hey, that monkey is having a great day." We double-tap, we share, and we project our human joy onto a creature that might actually be telling us to back the hell away.
Honestly, it’s a mess of a misunderstanding.
The internet loves images of monkeys smiling because humans are hardwired for pareidolia—the tendency to see faces and human emotions in everything from clouds to grilled cheese sandwiches. But in the world of primatology, a "smile" is rarely about happiness. When you look at a photo of a crested black macaque showing its teeth, you aren't looking at a happy camper. You’re likely looking at a "fear grin" or a silent bared-teeth display.
The Viral Photo That Changed Everything
Remember Naruto? Not the anime character, but the Indonesian macaque who took a selfie. Back in 2011, nature photographer David Slater was in Sulawesi. A macaque ended up pressing the shutter on his camera. The result was one of the most famous images of monkeys smiling in history.
People went nuts. It sparked a massive legal battle over copyright—can a monkey own a photo?—but more importantly, it solidified the "smiling monkey" trope in the public consciousness. But if you ask a primatologist like Dr. Agustin Fuentes, they’ll tell you that Naruto wasn't expressing "cheese!" for the camera. He was reacting to his own reflection or the strange glass lens in a way that signaled social tension or submission.
🔗 Read more: Marie Kondo The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: What Most People Get Wrong
It's kinda wild when you think about it. We spent years in court arguing about the copyright of a photo that we fundamentally misinterpreted from day one.
What a Monkey Smile Actually Means
In the wild, showing teeth is an ancient signal. For most primates, exposing the "weapons" (the teeth) while keeping them closed is a way to say, "I’m not a threat, please don’t hurt me."
- The Fear Grin: This is common in rhesus macaques and chimps. If a subordinate monkey approaches a dominant one, they might pull their lips back. It looks like a human smile, but it’s actually a de-escalation tactic. It’s like saying, "I’m small, I’m submissive, let’s not fight."
- The Play Face: Now, there is a version that looks like a smile and actually is positive. Primates have a "relaxed open-mouth display" used during play. But here’s the catch: you usually don’t see the top teeth. If the top teeth are visible and the jaw is clenched, it’s tension. If the mouth is open and loose, they’re having fun.
- The Threat: Sometimes, what looks like a grin is the start of a yawn-threat. This is when a monkey shows off its canines to warn a predator or a rival. If you see this in images of monkeys smiling, and the eyes are wide and staring, that monkey is about half a second away from a physical confrontation.
The Problem with the "Pet" Industry
Social media has made this worse. You’ve probably seen those "cute" videos of slow lorises being tickled or capuchin monkeys wearing shirts and "smiling" at the camera.
It’s heartbreaking.
💡 You might also like: Why Transparent Plus Size Models Are Changing How We Actually Shop
A slow loris raising its arms isn't enjoying the tickle; it’s trying to access venom glands in its armpits to defend itself. A pet capuchin "smiling" while being held is often in a state of extreme stress. When we demand more images of monkeys smiling, we create a market for "actor" monkeys or illegal pets. These animals are often taken from the wild, their teeth are sometimes pulled out to make them "safe," and they spend their lives in a state of perpetual anxiety because they are being forced to perform human-like expressions that feel unnatural to them.
Why We Keep Falling For It
Why do we want them to smile so badly? Because we’re lonely for a connection with nature.
We live in boxes, look at screens, and feel disconnected from the animal kingdom. Seeing a "smiling" monkey makes us feel like we have a peer in the woods. It makes the world feel friendlier. But true respect for wildlife means seeing them for who they are, not who we want them to be.
If you want to see a truly happy primate, look for photos of them grooming each other. Look for a monkey with a relaxed face, eyes half-closed, sitting in the sun. That’s contentment. It just doesn’t make for a "viral" thumbnail because it doesn't look like us.
📖 Related: Weather Forecast Calumet MI: What Most People Get Wrong About Keweenaw Winters
How to Spot a Genuine Expression
If you are looking at images of monkeys smiling and want to know if the animal is actually okay, check these three things:
- The Eyes: Are they "hard" and staring? If the eyes are locked on the camera and the teeth are showing, it’s a stress signal. A relaxed monkey has "soft" eyes that move around.
- The Tension: Look at the muscles around the mouth. If the lips are pulled back tight into a horizontal line, that’s fear or submission.
- The Context: Is the monkey in a house? Wearing clothes? Being held by a human? If yes, that "smile" is almost certainly a stress response. If the monkey is in the wild, swinging through trees, and has a loose, open mouth while chasing a friend—that’s a real play face.
Actionable Insights for the Conscious Viewer
When you come across images of monkeys smiling on your feed, don't just blindly hit like. Take a second to look at the source. If it’s a sanctuary or a legitimate wildlife photographer, they will usually provide context about the behavior.
Stop following accounts that post "funny" videos of pet monkeys. Those "smiles" are cries for help. Instead, support organizations like the International Primate Protection League (IPPL) or the Jane Goodall Institute. They work to keep these animals where they belong—in the wild, where they don't have to "smile" for a camera to be valued.
The next time you see a macaque baring its teeth, remember: it’s not happy. It’s communicating. And the best thing we can do as humans is finally learn to listen to what they’re actually saying. If you want to share a photo of a happy animal, find one where they are simply being themselves, free from the pressure of our human expectations.
Check the background of any "viral" primate photo. If you see cages, collars, or unnatural settings, report the content for animal cruelty rather than sharing it. Education starts with recognizing that a "smile" isn't a universal language across the species barrier. It’s our responsibility to bridge that gap with facts, not just feelings.