Crows may be smarter than the primates?
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After the famous experiment of 2002, the researchers paid close attention to the Raven
We All know that crows are very intelligent and cunning birds. However, their intelligence is probably much more advanced than expected. In 2002, scientists from Oxford University and watched in amazement as caught the crow by the name casually took a piece of wire, and then use the closest subject, bent it at one end, turning the wire into a tool with a hook. This tool allowed Betty to pull out of the plastic tube a small piece of meat. Then, in 2002, Betty surprised everyone and was perceived by the General public as exceptional . Only many years later we learned that intelligence and wit Betty — a common phenomenon for the crows of New Caledonia.
New Caledonia — overseas territory of France in the South Pacific ocean — is home to some really special birds. Observing New Caledonian crows, the researchers came to the conclusion that in the wild these birds all the time use your intelligence. In 2002, the researchers suggested that Betty on the go came up with a tool which allowed her to get food. But New Caledonia is similar to instruments — common. In recent years, the brain of these birds is closely studied. Today, there is no doubt that the cognitive ability of some of them outstanding.
Why the crows of New Caledonia — special?
Researchers have seen in the past for the crows of New Caledonia, and therefore not seen as these birds produce their own food with the help of improvised means. So, earlier this year, scientists described how the crows of New Caledonia are searching for a particular type of plant, from the stem of which make tools to catch food. The experiments showed that the crows had found the desired stems, even when they are masked by the leaves of other plants. This suggests that he knew what material needed for the manufacture of tools. Moreover, in the wild, New Caledonian crows use tools to dig insects out of holes and tree trunks.
New Caledonian Crows in the wild use the tools
Intelligence is rooted in the brain. The clever primates, including humans, the brain has a special structure — the neocortex, which is responsible for higher nervous functions — thinking, sensory perception and execution of motor commands. Corvids, however, have no such structure. Instead, in the brain are densely Packed clusters of neurons, which crows of New Caledonia are so developed mental abilities. This — an example of convergent evolution is when completely different evolutionary development led to the same features or behavior.
What animals use tools?
Ranking the intelligence of animals seems all the more pointless when you consider the truly important thing: how well this or that animal has adapted to the environment. So, the crows of New Caledonia — not the only species that developed the ability to use tools. It is capable of chimps, parrots, alligators and even crabs.
Different evolutionary path of development has led humans and other animals to sharp mind
Where the Raven uses mental skills and tools to access hard-to-reach food, just pull a giraffe's long neck. However, “smart” animals can sometimes carry out tasks beyond those required by nature. In published in the journal Current Biology, the researchers described the purpose of which was to show how the mood of the birds affected the instrument. In the course of work the birds are taught to recognize what's in the box at one end of the table was more food than in a box on the opposite. The ravens then he gave me a box in the middle of the table — which means they didn't know how much it food. Birds that have recently used the tools to extract food from a container closer to the mysterious box faster than those who have not used tools. This suggests that the use of the tool made more optimistic and positive relationship between the use of tools and expectations.
The Ravens also curious, and young individuals love to play. The researchers say about the similarity of the intelligence of these amazing birds with ours: in the end, we often use the brain to solve crosswords. Agree, this is not exactly what we need to do to survive. Such mental stress keeps us toned and evolution made this possible. But knowledge, like life itself, is not only needs. Animal intelligence allows you to be all sorts of exciting events. Gorilla that recognizes human language. The crow, which solves the puzzle. Parrot that tells jokes. Nature has provided the records and the animal brain creates music. Mind, as they say, is the only limit.
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