Tool-Using Animals
- By Rachel VanCott
- Posted 08.05.10
- NOVA scienceNOW
In 1960, British primatologist Jane Goodall observed wild chimpanzees "fishing" for termites with sticks. Just like that, humanity's reputation as the sole tool-using animal was shaken. Since then, scientists have recognized a number of tool-users in the animal kingdom. In this slide show, see some of the clever ways certain creatures make use of tools.
Credits
Images:
- (chimpanzees)
- © Stan Osolinski/Photolibrary
- (archer fish)
- © BIOS/Photolibrary
- (sea otter)
- © David Courtenay/Photolibrary
- (woodpecker finch)
- © Mary Plage/Photolibrary
- (octopus)
- Reprinted from Current Biology Vol 19, Issue 23, Julian K. Finn, et. al. "Defensive Tool Use in a Coconut-Carrying Octopus," 2009, with Permission from Elsevier.
- (elephant)
- © John Lambert/TIPS/Photolibrary
- (striated heron)
- © Thierry Montford/Photolibrary
- (dolphin)
- from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 102, No. 25, pg 8939-8943. "Cultural Transmission of Tool Use in Bottlenose Dolphins" 2005. Image taken by Michael Krí¼tzen
- (human tools)
- © flyfloor/iStockphoto
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