Monkeys use 'spades' to dig for food

[Tab]

Monkeys have been observed digging with stones, a feat that suggests the intelligence gap that separates them from humans is less than was thought.

The stone "spades" were used by wild capuchins. Researchers used to think only humans used tools, but now they know that other creatures, such as crows and chimpanzees, do the same.

But typically chimps use sticks, for example, to poke into termite mounds. No one had reported seeing wild animals use stones for digging until a study published today in the journal Science by a team from Cambridge University.

Drs Antonio Moura and Phyllis Lee observed capuchins in the Caatinga forests of north-east Brazil using tools almost every day to help them collect food.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/12/10/nchimp10.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/12/10/ixhome.html

Not that this is means much to creationists...

[hadrons]

1. does this mean that monkeys move ahead of Repukes in smarts???

too bad our Chimp-in-Chief isn't as intelligent as these monkeys

[Tab]

2. I do believe

I do believe that our president has his food served to him.

[Gyre]

9. If short-term memory serves, I do believe the chimp

has so far managed to kick OUR COLLECTIVE ASSES. So I would say that any innate sense of superiority here is lacking evidentiary support.

Plus, I believe that referring to * as "the chimp" does a grave disservice to our simian cousins. Even though I'm as guilty as the next DUer.

Gyre

[yardwork]

11. Congratulations, Gyre!

Was it one of your posts that won "ten best of DU" on the Free Republic list published a day or so ago?

I wish I could say I agreed with your post that made the FR list, but I didn't. We are a big tent at DU.

[Dover]

3. Well now everyone knows what to give the chimp for Christmas.

And all those GOP friends as well. Of course you might need to include instructions with the spades.

[AndyTiedye]

4. We've Gotta Stop Calling * "Chimpie"

It is obviously an undeserved compliment.

Shrubbie would never have figured out something like that on his own.

[stevedeshazer]

5. Wow, who knew?

[LifeDuringWartime]

6. evolution

maybe this hasn't been observed before because its a recent development?

[foo_bar]

14. interesting theory

I noticed my cats hiding Playboys under the rug.

[VegasWolf]

7. LBN: Monkey's found praying to statue of Jesus. n/t

[BrotherBuzz]

8. Sea Otters use hammers to prepare food

Sea otters are one of the only mammals other than primates known to use tools. They eat animals with shells, like clams and abalone, and use a stone to break open the shells. When sea otters are under water searching for food, they store what they have found in the loose skin folds at their armpits including their hammering rock.

[WindRavenX]

10. What about ravens?

They've been observed to pick up acorns/other nuts, fly to an intersection, and drop the nuts to the road by a stop light. When the cars stop on red, they pick them up.

[BrotherBuzz]

13. Yep, the crows around my house...

rely mostly on gravity, though. Is gravity a tool? ;)

[yardwork]

12. Lots of animals use tools

It's an artificial distinction to say that humans use tools and other animals do not.

[stevedeshazer]

15. Beavers.

I'm tellin' ya, beavers. :)

[VegasWolf]

16. Monkey invents rolling device. Monkey's uncle says nephew

is looking for a practical application for his invention.