5 amazing animals that learnt how to use tools
1. Chimpanzees
Chimps can adapt twigs to fish termites from their nests and absorb water to drink from narrow holes in trees. They also use rocks as weapons and to hammer open nuts. Some have even been seen crafting spears.
2. Tusk fish
As revealed on Blue Planet II, this clever species of fish has worked out how to smash open clams on pieces of rock or hard coral in order to get to the juicy food within, a process that can take minutes or hour
3. Crows
Certain species of crow have been observed using sticks to extract food and transport it back to their nests. They even seem to develop a fondness for particular tools, with hooked twigs often a favourite.
4. Crocodiles
In a first for reptiles, crocodiles have been observed balancing sticks on their snouts to lure unsuspecting birds looking for nest-building materials into their reach, so that they can eat them.
5. Octopus
These soft-bodied molluscs use coconut shells and other such debris that they find on the sea bed as protective armour, hiding inside as a predator approaches and then rolling away when it swims off.
This article was originally published in How It Works issue 112, written by Joanna Stass
For more science and technology articles, pick up the latest copy of How It Works from all good retailers or from our website now. If you have a tablet or smartphone, you can also download the digital version onto your iOS or Android device. To make sure you never miss an issue of How It Works magazine, subscribe today!
