The reasons might surprise you.
The little fox has spent the night running through tall grass and playing with its siblings. It’s tired! Time for it to catch some Zzz’s.
The animal stretches out its furry paws and breathes in deeply. It opens its mouth wide.
Yaaaaaawn!
This fox is one of the many animals that yawn. Humans yawn at least six times a day! But why?
Energy Boost
Scientists think yawning has a special purpose: to help you stay awake. When your brain gets too warm, you can feel sleepy. As you yawn, you breathe in a lot of air.
This air is usually cooler than your body. It cools down your brain, giving it a boost of energy. This helps wake you up!
Watch Out!
There’s another cool fact about yawning: It’s contagious! That means if you spot your friend (or even your dog!) yawning, you might yawn too. The same happens for animals that live in groups, like elephants or lions.
Experts think the reason may be about safety. When a yawn spreads, it may be a way to tell the group’s members that they should look out for danger. In other words, yawning is a silent, secret message that says, “Wake up and watch out!”
Now tell us: Did reading this story make you yawn?
Anup Shah/NPL/Minden Pictures (Lions); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)
Sleepy Heads
Foxes aren’t the only animals that yawn. Many animals do—including lions, sea lions, and gorillas!
