Primates,_Use_of_Tools_to_Perform_Their_Daily_Tasks

Primates use and create tools in order to accomplish given tasks, they are able to make use of tools in a "human" manner. “Many species have been observed to use tools in the wild, including, sea otters, herons, Egyptian vultures, woodpecker finches, capuchin monkeys.” “However, only New Caledonian crows, and woodpecker finches habitually use and manufacture tools in the wild.” Recent discoveries have shown that hundreds of animal species use tools. New Caledonia crows, for instance, use twigs to remove insect larvae from the inside of the insects nest. Sea otters use flat stones to break open urchin shells, Sea otters place a sea urchin on their bellies as they float on their backs and using a rock, they break the shell so they can eat the inside of the urchin (1) The Woodpecker Finch, and some herons can manufacture tools. “Herons in southern Japan have been observed using insects, berries, twigs, and discarded crackers as bait to catch prey, like a human fisherman, the heron will cast the bait in the water, then crouch down and wait for the curious or hungry fish that comes to inspect the lure. The birds have even been seen to trim oversized twigs to the proper dimensions.” There have been 39 cases of true tool use in birds, New Caledonian crows modify and use tools to extract grubs from small holes and have even made hooks out of straight pieces of wire to get food. “When given a worm suspended on an out-of-reach platform only accessible by collapsing the platform, 5 rooks dropped a stone down a vertical tube providing the necessary force to collapse the platform and acquire the worm by either nudging the stone into the tube or by observing another bird solve the task. (Trials, supporting documentation provided http://www.pnas.org/content/106/25/10370.full ) The Egyptian Vulture uses small rocks to crack ostrich eggs the Vulture picks up or lifts a stone with its beak and then hits the thick shell with a strong swing of its head and neck. (2) Another study was led by University of Georgia psychologist Dorothy Fragaszy, The research in Brazil revealed The monkey put the palm nut on a flat rock or 'anvil' and set it so that it doesn't roll off. Then the monkey picked up another stone, the 'hammer,' that is heavy enough to crack the nut, but not so heavy that the monkey can't lift it," she adds. "Then the monkey aimed and struck the nut with enough force to crack it." (3) Works Consulted (1) Charles R. Gallistel, and Rutgers, (editors). Insightful problem solving and creative tool modification by captive non-tool-using rooks. The State University of New Jersey. April 20, 2009 (2) PBS. “Parrots in the Land of Oz: Birds that Use Tools” 2010 Educational Broadcasting Corporation. (3) Dorothy Fragaszy, “Monkey Business: The discovery of capuchin monkeys in the wild using stones as nutcrackers may tell us something about the monkeys' ingenuity, and more about ourselves.” July 6, 2005 (*) Guillaume Povet and Berthrand Lover (written and Directed by) “Animals Like Us” Saint Thomas Production