Re: Caution: tool-wielding reptile on board

[Ben Creisler <bcreisler@gmail.com>]

From: Ben Creisler
bcreisler@gmail.com

I posted the link a few days back in a news item but the article is
now in open access so the pdf is free:

>>>>
Crocodile tool use

...........

Dinets, V., Brueggen, J. C. & Brueggen, J. D. 2013.
Crocodilians use tools for hunting.
Ethology Ecology & Evolution in press
DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2013.858276
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03949370.2013.858276#.UppgPcRDv8s

Using objects as hunting lures is very rare in nature, having been
observed in just a handful of species. We report the use of twigs and
sticks as bird lures by two crocodilian species. At least one of them
uses this method predominantly during the nest-building season of its
prey. This is the first known case of a predator not just using
objects as lures, but also taking into account the seasonality of prey
behavior. It provides a surprising insight into previously
unrecognized complexity of archosaurian behavior.

>>>>>>>>>

On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 8:21 PM,  <zenlizard@comcast.net> wrote:
> New outline about modern-day crocodilians using lures for birding.
> http://news.sciencemag.org/plants-animals/2013/12/scienceshot-first-example-tool-use-reptiles
>
> -zenlizard