Scientists from Baylor University have found that coyotes can look with “puppy dog” eyes, similar to dogs. This discovery casts doubt on the hypothesis that such a habit appeared in dogs already during their life next to humans. The results of the study were published in the journal Science.
The researchers carefully studied the facial musculature of ten coyotes and found that all tested individuals had a well-developed levator eyebrow muscle (LAOM). This muscle plays a key role in the formation of “puppy eyes” in dogs.
Previously, it was believed that this muscular ability developed in dogs during the process of domestication, since in gray wolves, which are the closest wild ancestors of dogs, this muscle works poorly or is absent altogether. However, new research indicates that this feature likely appeared much earlier in the evolution of the canid genus.
Scientists hypothesize that many canids, including jackals and dholes, may also have the ability to make “puppy dog eyes.” At the same time, gray wolves may have lost this characteristic, since communication through distant sound signals is more important to them, rather than facial expressions.
Scientists don't yet know whether coyotes use this facial expression in the wild. More research is needed to confirm this.
