New Caledonian crows plan for specific future tool use.
Proc Biol Sci
; 287(1938): 20201490, 2020 11 11.
Article
de En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33143583
ABSTRACT
The ability to plan for future events is one of the defining features of human intelligence. Whether non-human animals can plan for specific future situations remains contentious despite a sustained research effort over the last two decades, there is still no consensus on this question. Here, we show that New Caledonian crows can use tools to plan for specific future events. Crows learned a temporal sequence where they were (a) shown a baited apparatus, (b) 5 min later given a choice of five objects and (c) 10 min later given access to the apparatus. At test, these crows were presented with one of two tool-apparatus combinations. For each combination, the crows chose the right tool for the right future task, while ignoring previously useful tools and a low-value food item. This study establishes that planning for specific future tool use can evolve via convergent evolution, given that corvids and humans shared a common ancestor over 300 million years ago, and offers a route to mapping the planning capacities of animals.
Mots clés
Texte intégral:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Base de données:
MEDLINE
Sujet principal:
Corneilles
/
Comportement d'utilisation d'outil
Limites:
Animals
Langue:
En
Journal:
Proc Biol Sci
Sujet du journal:
BIOLOGIA
Année:
2020
Type de document:
Article
Pays d'affiliation:
Royaume-Uni