Macaques Observed Using Stone Tools To Open Oysters And Nuts
- 8 years ago
Macaques in Thailand have been using stone tools to open oysters, crabs and nuts for decades, if not thousands of years, according to recent research by the University of Oxford researchers.
Macaques in Thailand have been using stone tools to open oysters, crabs and nuts for decades, if not thousands of years, according to recent research by the University of Oxford researchers.
A press release issued by the university explained, "While there have been several studies observing living non-human primates, this is the first report into the archaeological evidence of tool use by Old World monkeys...This is just the first step in finding out how [the monkeys'] behaviour compares with that of early humans living in similar environments."
The macaques were observed from boats off the coast of a marine park in Piak Nam Yai Island as they used rocks to crack open nuts and crab shells along with marine snails and oysters.
The release further noted, "The researchers also found that once a macaque had a good stone fit for the job, they would keep it to crack open other shells or nuts before dropping it."
The study's lead author, Dr. Michael Haslam, said, "We [found] that primates with much smaller brains than humans have innovative ways of exploiting the food sources available to them."
Macaques in Thailand have been using stone tools to open oysters, crabs and nuts for decades, if not thousands of years, according to recent research by the University of Oxford researchers.
A press release issued by the university explained, "While there have been several studies observing living non-human primates, this is the first report into the archaeological evidence of tool use by Old World monkeys...This is just the first step in finding out how [the monkeys'] behaviour compares with that of early humans living in similar environments."
The macaques were observed from boats off the coast of a marine park in Piak Nam Yai Island as they used rocks to crack open nuts and crab shells along with marine snails and oysters.
The release further noted, "The researchers also found that once a macaque had a good stone fit for the job, they would keep it to crack open other shells or nuts before dropping it."
The study's lead author, Dr. Michael Haslam, said, "We [found] that primates with much smaller brains than humans have innovative ways of exploiting the food sources available to them."