Rapid-Ear-Flapping

Flapping the ears vigorously and rapidly in a raised position. Rapid-Ear-Flapping is usually associated with Head-Raising and Ear-Folding. This behavior is almost always seen in the context of greeting or bonding interactions that involve chorused calling such as Bonding-Ceremonies, Coalitions, High-Fiving, End-Zone-Dance, Female-Choring, Greeting-Ceremonies, Mating-Pandemoniums. In Coalition Building and Advertisement & Attraction contexts this behavior is observed among adult, adolescent and juvenile females; In Affiliative contexts female calves also participate.

References: Moss 1981; Poole 1982: 37, 50; Moss 1988; Poole et al 1988; Poole 1998; Poole & Granli 2003; Payne, 2003; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Advertisement & Attraction, Affiliative, Birth, Coalition Building, Courtship

Rapid-Ear-Flapping

Context: Coalition Building (1)

An End-Zone-Dance is a form of Bonding-Ceremony that takes place after a defensive action. This End-Zone-Dance took place after multiple Group-Advances and multiple Group- and sustained Charges by members of the Mabenzi family.

After Valente's almost two minute Charge which was joined by the entire family, Valente and Mwana Nzo High-Five and others all gather in an End-Zone-Dance - The main players - Valente and Mwana-Nzo Rumble with Open-Mouth, while they display Rapid-Ear-Flapping, Head-Raising, Tail-Raising, and Defecating. They reach their trunks to one another's mouth, Trunk-to-Mouth, and then display Trunk-Twining, Open-Mouth-to-Open-Mouth Intermittently there are Social-Trumpets. Then Mwana Nzo initiates another Group Advance.

We have only marked a short section of the Rapid-Ear-Flapping that occurs through much of the clip. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)