Australian_Geographic_-_December_2015_AU_

November–December 2015 127

I’ve seen birds yawn and wondered if reptiles yawn, or perform other

bodily actions, such as sneezing or coughing?

MIKE ROBINSON, HELENSBURGH, NSW

DR MARK HUTCHINSON, SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM, SAYS:

Reptiles, like lizards and snakes, appear to yawn from time to time, opening their

mouths widely for no obvious reason. Snakes often gape and work their jaws after feeding,

but this seems to be more to do with getting all the moving parts within their very mobile

skulls to settle back into place. When congested, or if the nose is stuffed up, they do make

sneezing sounds that blow their nostrils free of congestion. And sometimes little spasms or

twitches occur after feeding that might be hiccups (but I haven’t seen a reptile experience the

persistent hiccups that we sometimes do).

Some of these actions look similar to those that occur in people, but they are not necessar-

ily the same physiological ‘experiences’. I’ve not come across anything that suggests that

when a lizard yawns or sneezes, it gives them the same feeling of relief (endorphins)

that we experience. What another creature feels when they show a similar external

symptom or behaviour to one of ours is always diffi cult to determine.

AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC /

Chlamydosaurus kingii

; GETTY /

Probosciger aterrimus

; JOEYFUL / GETTY

Why do cats rub against your legs?

GEMMA CALVERT, PERTH, WA

DR GAILLE PERRY, VISITING LECTURER TO THE

UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND, SAYS:

Cats produce pheromones from glands around their mouth, chin,

forehead and cheeks, as well as their fl anks, tail and paws. They use

these to mark their territory, and also to communicate friendly intentions,

by headbutting and rubbing against one another. It is thought that, by rubbing

on us, they are, in effect, ‘marking’ us as a member of their social group. This is

instinctive behaviour, shown by both domestic and wild cats.

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We shared stories about palm

cockatoos on our website,

Facebook and Twitter.

In Cape York, I spent time with

one at camp while the boys were

out fi shing. They seem dominant

in personality, but truly spectacu-

lar in colour, size and cleverness.

LEISA BUCKTON

I saw one on a trip to Cape

York. I didn’t know it was rare

and the tour guide was really

disappointed he missed it!

SUSAN PATTERSON

I saw many of these great-

looking birds during my time

as a ringer in the Gulf Country,

back in the 1950s.

NEVILLE JEFFREYS

They bang the side of their

hollow tree nest with a stick

to announce their presence

and communicate. Mad stuff.

TOM DAWSON

Black cockatoos are my

favourite birds. I’ve planted

some she-oaks and Daintree

pines so that they might think of

stopping over on their way past.

MICHELLE NIGHTINGALE

We were very lucky to see a

couple on the dirt road in

Cape York; so lucky to have

had my camera ready, too!

JENINNE RIC JANSSEN

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Ta l k b@ck

Show-off. Frill-necked

lizards open their mouths

to warn off predators, but

do they yawn too?

A

A

Q

Q