Behaviour
An animal's behaviour encompasses all the things that it does as well as the way it does them. Behaviour ranges from simple actions, such as eating or keeping clean, to highly elaborate activities, such as hunting in a pack, courting a mate, or building a nest. In some animals, behaviour is almost entirely predictable; in others, it develops with experience, so the more an animals does something, the more skilled it becomes. As with all aspects of animal biology, behaviour is the product of evolution, which means that it gradually changes as time goes by. These changes enable species to react in the most effective way to the opportunities and dangers that they encounter in daily life.
Animal Intelligence
At one time, intelligence was thought to be rare in animals, with some exceptions such as dolphins, monkeys, and chimpanzees. Mammals include gifted communicators, but they are not alone in having problem-solving skills. Many other animals use simple tools, and some even shape them as well. Among the most impressive tool-makers are crows and their relative. In captivity, one new caledonian crow was seen bending a straight piece of wire, which it successfully turned into a hook for reaching food. It did this despite never having seen wire before - a remarkable example of insight that even a primate would find hard to match.
The Signs of intelligence
Chimpanzees can solve problems, and they are able to learn sign language to communicate with humans. They can learn symbols for objects and actions, and they occasionally combine the symbols in ways that resemble spoken language.
From the book: Animals
An animal's behaviour encompasses all the things that it does as well as the way it does them. Behaviour ranges from simple actions, such as eating or keeping clean, to highly elaborate activities, such as hunting in a pack, courting a mate, or building a nest. In some animals, behaviour is almost entirely predictable; in others, it develops with experience, so the more an animals does something, the more skilled it becomes. As with all aspects of animal biology, behaviour is the product of evolution, which means that it gradually changes as time goes by. These changes enable species to react in the most effective way to the opportunities and dangers that they encounter in daily life.
Animal Intelligence
At one time, intelligence was thought to be rare in animals, with some exceptions such as dolphins, monkeys, and chimpanzees. Mammals include gifted communicators, but they are not alone in having problem-solving skills. Many other animals use simple tools, and some even shape them as well. Among the most impressive tool-makers are crows and their relative. In captivity, one new caledonian crow was seen bending a straight piece of wire, which it successfully turned into a hook for reaching food. It did this despite never having seen wire before - a remarkable example of insight that even a primate would find hard to match.
New Caledonian crows using tools for feeding
The Signs of intelligence
Chimpanzees can solve problems, and they are able to learn sign language to communicate with humans. They can learn symbols for objects and actions, and they occasionally combine the symbols in ways that resemble spoken language.
Koko: A Talking Gorilla [1/8]:
also about Washoe, a chimpanzee that has a vocabulary of approximately 200 words.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmuu8UEi2ko&feature=relatedFrom the book: Animals
