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Research in Brazil has produced fresh evidence that primates may have something approaching human "culture".A scientist has observed capuchin monkeys banging stones together, apparently as a signalling device to ward off potential predators.The researcher says the animals appear to be learning this skill from each other - and even teaching incomers to the group how it should be done.The research is reported in the scientific journal Folia Primatologica.Dr Antonio Moura from the University of Cambridge, UK carried out his work in the Serra da Capivara National Park, in the Piaui state of north-east Brazil.Hard alertsThe use of stone technology in foraging for food is well known in non-human primates; monkeys will use rocks to crack open nuts. But this may be the first time they have been seen using stones to create a noise to keep predators away, and warn one another of potential danger.Dr Moura describes how the monkeys, as he approached several groups of them, would first search for a suitable loose stone, then hit it on a rock surface several times in an aggressive manner.Only as they became more used to his visits over time did the stone-banging decrease.Noisy lessonsThe scientist said he saw adults and juveniles hitting the stones together without paying him any attention at all - suggesting that the younger monkeys were learning the skill from their elders.What is more, captive monkeys released into the area to join the study animals appeared to learn to bang stones as well."Although banging objects is an innate behaviour in capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella libidinosus), in all wild groups observed so far it has been observed only in a foraging context," Dr Moura said."Stone-banging is a novel behavioural variant that is most likely learned socially. The absence of this display in other populations of capuchins, which have access to stones, suggests that stone-banging could be a social tradition in the population studied."
Yes I agree, Pbs had a special about the gorillas they have in the congo in New york Bronx Zoo in the illaborate rainforest congo they recreated to be a nice habitat for them. They were able to observe them using sticks on repeated occasions to reach the ants or grubs the were fishing out of an ant hill in the congo! It was one of the coolest shows I have watched in a long time!YAYYYYYYY!
Quote from: Karen W. on 24/03/2007 05:17:24Yes I agree, Pbs had a special about the gorillas they have in the congo in New york Bronx Zoo in the illaborate rainforest congo they recreated to be a nice habitat for them. They were able to observe them using sticks on repeated occasions to reach the ants or grubs the were fishing out of an ant hill in the congo! It was one of the coolest shows I have watched in a long time!YAYYYYYYY!Are you are they were gorillas and not chimpanzees - I thought gorillas were strict vegetarians (not even insect meat) - may be wrong about that, but that was my understanding.
And just to be pedantic, why have gorillas been mentioned in a post about monkeys? [)]
Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 24/03/2007 16:35:05And just to be pedantic, why have gorillas been mentioned in a post about monkeys? [)]heresy !!.....sacrilege !!....blasphemy !!..orf with their heads !!
Quote from: another_someone on 24/03/2007 11:59:13Quote from: Karen W. on 24/03/2007 05:17:24Yes I agree, Pbs had a special about the gorillas they have in the congo in New york Bronx Zoo in the illaborate rainforest congo they recreated to be a nice habitat for them. They were able to observe them using sticks on repeated occasions to reach the ants or grubs the were fishing out of an ant hill in the congo! It was one of the coolest shows I have watched in a long time!YAYYYYYYY!Are you sure they were gorillas and not chimpanzees - I thought gorillas were strict vegetarians (not even insect meat) - may be wrong about that, but that was my understanding.http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/gorilla/diet.htmWhy the hell is there a page about gorillas on the SeaWorld website? I didn't think they were aquatic []Anyway, you will note from that site that only the Eastern Lowland Gorilla is strictly vegetarian. The others eat either termites & ants or some invertebrates.Say "Thank you, Doc" []
Quote from: Karen W. on 24/03/2007 05:17:24Yes I agree, Pbs had a special about the gorillas they have in the congo in New york Bronx Zoo in the illaborate rainforest congo they recreated to be a nice habitat for them. They were able to observe them using sticks on repeated occasions to reach the ants or grubs the were fishing out of an ant hill in the congo! It was one of the coolest shows I have watched in a long time!YAYYYYYYY!Are you sure they were gorillas and not chimpanzees - I thought gorillas were strict vegetarians (not even insect meat) - may be wrong about that, but that was my understanding.
Westlife are a sickly Irish boyband [xx(]
this one's not a clever monkey.
Lots of assumptions here !Assuming we don't destroy ourselves....Assuming we don't destroy their habitat.....assuming they survive........it would be interesting to come back in a million years and see if these primates have developed even more so. Perhaps they are evolving and we are not !
Quote from: neilep on 24/03/2007 13:50:19Lots of assumptions here !Assuming we don't destroy ourselves....Assuming we don't destroy their habitat.....assuming they survive........it would be interesting to come back in a million years and see if these primates have developed even more so. Perhaps they are evolving and we are not !It would not make sense to assume that any ape or monkey would be able to supercede humans in their position in the environment.Humans are too well entrenched in their position to be replaced. Whatever species replaces humans it will have to do it in a totally different way to the way humans do it. Whatever species it is would be a species very different from humans, almost certainly a species we would regard with disdain because it will not be good at doing thing the way humans do it, but would do things totally differently, in a way that we would in our own narrow perspective think to be inferior to the human way of doing things.But I think you are also wrong to say that humans are not evolving. Just look at the human population today, and look at that same population 400 years ago across the globe, and I think it would not be difficult to see the differences (not only changes in clothes and technology, but changes in height, in IQ, in resistance to diseases, and even changes in the mix of races across the globe).
I have not said that humans are not evolving at all !!
Perhaps they are evolving and we are not !
I have also not made any claims about us being superseded by these primates.........read my words again !..
I agree with what you say entirely and make no claims based on what you assumed I have said.