On: All the hominins made tools

[adr1an]

Didn't read the article, I was hoping it was a gallery with a time line. Anyway, look for New Caledonian Crows, they make tools (bended hooks). It's the only non primate species that does. Supposedly, to make a tool you have a super accurate model representation in your head on what you want to achieve while elaborating such tool. That is awesome.

[solardev → adr1an]

Edit: Sorry, parent post said "create" tools, not "use". That is less common, and depends on what you consider "creation".

------

I love crows, but it is not true they're the only non primates able to use tools.

Many animals do! Otters, octopuses, other birds, some fish, etc.:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool_use_by_non-humans?wprov=s...

That belief is an outdated one from people who were too anthropocentric and didn't spend enough time with animals.

[simonh → solardev]

Making tools, such as bending wire to make a hook in this case, is distinct from just using found objects.

[solardev → simonh]

Yep, that's a distinction the OP made I didn't catch at first, and only subsequently corrected my comment.

Even then, however, elephants have been known to modify branches (https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2002-10036-002), other birds in the same family (corvids) can manipulate wires similarly to the crows (https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.0901008106), dolphins can use shells in non-obvious ways (https://www.wired.com/2011/08/dolphin-fishing/), etc. There are probably more out there that we just never noticed... and it's probably also a matter of degree and circumstance.

[simonh → solardev]

I'm not surprised, brains are incredible, even tiny ones in organisms like insects. Is a bird's nest a tool? There's a continuum all the way up from ant nests to rocket ships.

[NoMoreNicksLeft → adr1an]

My god man. Do not be teaching crows metallurgy. You're a species traitor.

[fuzzfactor → adr1an]

>All the hominins made tools

I've seen a few fail no matter how hard they try.

Sometimes even at the initial conceptualization, so not all hominids are as smart as they think.