Are other animals ticklish? I suspect that chimpansees may be, but I'm not sure.
Or it this purely a human sensitivity?
2007-12-13 03:58:34 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
If you gently brush your finger across the fur under a dog's paw or a cat's paw, they will pull back - presumably because it tickles them. I suspect this is the same with many animals in the feline and canine catagories. I am not sue you would have the same success with an elephant or an alagator.
As for chimpanzees, they are ticklish. There was a very famous chimpanzee named Washoe who was taught ASL (American Sign Language) and she loved to be tickled. She would frequently be rewarded with tickling and she would sign for more tickling.
2007-12-13 11:18:13 · answer #1 · answered by mgctouch 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, other animals are ticklish, they just don't necessarily laugh like humans and chimpanzees do.
to be tickled means to stimulate certain nerve endings in a very particular way. Since the different types of nerve endings are present in almost all animals and work pretty much in the same way (highly conserved), then it stands to reason that they can be stimulated in the same way. AGain, the reaction may be different (don't necessarily want to try this with a crocodile).
2007-12-13 05:32:03 · answer #2 · answered by tiger b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We tickle my dog all the time. The bottom of his paws, the furry space between the pads - he doesn't laugh tho. He just gets annoyed. Then if we keep doing it he'll kick us and walk away.
2007-12-13 07:43:14 · answer #3 · answered by DNJ84 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.metrotorontozoo.com e-mail this question to the zoology department, they will be glad to answer it for you accurately,...
-- good luck,.., bye,..,
2007-12-13 05:08:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋