New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Cognitive requirements for tool use by New Caledonian crows (Corvus
moneduloides)
G. R. Hunt1
C. Lambert2
R. D. Gray1
1Department of Psychology
University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland 1142, New Zealand
grhunt10@hotmail.com
2Syndicat Mixte des Grandes Fougères
B.P. 451
98880 La Foa
Nouvelle Calédonie
Abstract Cumulative technological evolution has
been suggested to explain the existence of different pandanus tool
designs manufactured by New Caledonian crows. Circumstantial evidence
from the distribution of the three tool designs that they manufacture
suggests transmission of the designs probably involves accurate social
learning, a characteristic considered essential for the cumulative
evolution of tools. Recently, Kenward et al. (2005) reported that four
hand-raised crows developed basic stick tool use without social
learning. This finding cast doubt on the importance of social learning
in the evolution of crows’ pandanus tools in the wild. Here, we report
that a naïve male crow at Parc Zoo-Forestier, Nouméa,
developed proficient stick tool use without social input in 2002. In
2004, four captive crows, including the naïve male, that were
inexperienced with pandanus material were given an opportunity to use
and/or manufacture pandanus tools. Only two of the four birds used the
tools but none manufactured tools. Our preliminary findings and the
work with the four hand-raised crows keep open the possibility that the
evolution of crows’ pandanus tool designs is based on social learning.
We propose that social learning and a disposition to develop basic tool
use without social input are both essential cognitive requirements for
cumulative technological evolution.
Keywords Corvus moneduloides; cumulative
technological evolution; New Caledonian crows; ontogeny; social
learning; tool manufacture and use
Z06011; Online publication date 27 February 2007; Received 8 March
2006; accepted 2 November 2006
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2007, Vol. 34: 1 - 7
0301 - 4223/07/3401 - 01 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2007
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