Researchers have found three fish species that live in the Laccadive Sea, off the southwest corner of the Indian coast, are capable of using tools.
- These species are Jansen’s wrasse (Thalassoma jansenii), the checkerboard wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanus) and the moon wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) .
- All three species used live or dead coral structures as anvils to break the hard shells of sea urchins so they could get to the edible bits inside.
- Jansen’s, checkerboard, and moon wrasses were using makeshift tools around sea urchin (Echinostrephus molaris) to break open urchin tests, like people might break open a walnut shell.
- Reports of animals like chimpanzees using straws to draw water and crows fashioning leaves to extract insects from crevices are well known whereas reports of aquatic animals using tools have been far less common.
- This is partly because they are much more difficult to observe and because of the perception that species like fish are ‘less intelligent’.
- Unlike primates, birds, otters, octopuses, and many other animals that scientists know are capable of wielding tools, fish have no hands, claws, or tentacles.
- This presents an obvious challenge for tool use, since being able to grasp and manipulate objects are key requirements for using tools.
