Mandrill Monkey's Cure For Boredom - A Pedicure!
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It appears that Mandrill monkeys in captivity are getting smarter by the day - Just a few weeks ago, researchers revealed a group that had figured out sign language to get some space - Now, another one has been caught on tape as it gives itself a 'pedicure' using a custom-built nail file!
This smart male Mandrill, who lives at England's Chester Zoo, was being observed for a totally different study, when researcher Dr. Richard Pansini noticed something interesting. The animal sought out a twig from within its cage, thinned it so that it could slide under his toe nails and then, proceeded to do a rather fine job of cleaning them.
The reason the research community is excited by this crude 'pedicure' is because it shows the creation and usage of tools. This in turn, proves a level of intelligence that had previously been thought to be possessed only by humans. However, recently tool usage has been observed in dolphins, octopuses, chimpanzees and even crows. While monkeys have also been seen using tools, it has rarely been outside the realm of acquiring food.
What's even more exciting to Dr. Pansini is that in the past these primates have used twigs to clean out their ears, but this monkey has figured out how to modify the same 'tool' and use it for a totally different purpose.
And, even more interesting is the fact that the researcher believes that giving themselves 'pedicures' is not something Mandrill monkeys do in the wild - They are too busy trying to forage for food and tend to their families. However, since there is not much to do in the zoo, he thinks that this Mandrill has figured out this frivolous activity to pass the time!
Of course, not all experts agree with this conclusion. Dr. Amanda Seed, a researcher at the University of Andrews maintains that when a primate uses something for self-cleaning, it is not technically 'tool usage'. Whatever it is, we think this Mandrill is quite smart - Don't you?
Resources: physorg.com
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214 Comments
nick54322about 14 yearsthat monkey thing is so cute dont you think
stitchabout 11 yearsno
- Antonio Gabout 14 yearsI think the Mandrill monkeys are the smartest because they clean their toe nails by a twig that was in his cage. They also pedicure themselves. Another interesting fact is that they pedicure themselves with tools.
- Christinaabout 14 yearsi think the smartest is the dolphins.Way because they can do lots of things thet monkys cant they can her very good they remember people they camiunacat under water I THINK THET DOLPHINS ARE SMARTER!!
- Lana M.over 14 yearsI think that of the Mandrill Monkeys and the dolphins, the Mandrill Monkeys are the smarter of the two species. This is because the Mandrill Monkeys used tools, which used to be the only thing that separated humans from animals. The dolphins only learned how to do things by mimicking, and the monkeys made up their own tool. Also, the article said that the monkeys made their own way of saying stay away. This proves their intelligence. The dolphins might chirp and whistle, but there was nothing about them making their own way of saying stay away in the dolphin article.
- Alex Perezover 14 yearsI think that the Mandrill Monkeys are smarter than dolphins. I think that because the Mandrill Monkeys made up signs and was to cure their boredom. This smart Mandrill made a sign to get space. She would cover her eyes and the other Mandrills would stay away. This other smart Mandrill made up a way to cure boredom. The Mandrill would clean its toe nails.The Mandrill would file a twig down and start cleaning. Before they would use it for cleaning their ears. But this Mandrill found a new way. The dolphins are smart by communicating but Mandrill Monkeys are smarter.
- Andrew L.over 14 yearsI think the mandrill monkeys are smarter because the gave themselves a pedicure by using the objects around them.i also think they are smarter because they used sign language to communicate.The last way i think they are smart is that they used some signs to tell how the feel.This is why i think the Mandrill monkeys are smarter.
- S3th (YAnCey)!over 14 yearsI think that the Mandril Monkeys are the smartest, because they found out how to pass the time by giving them selves a (predicure). I thought that was interesting and awesome. They also used it with a nail file! That is why I thought that the Mandril Monkeys were the smartest animal.
- Nathan Ningover 14 yearsI think that the dolfins are smarter than the mandrill monkeys. I think that because the mandrill monkey didn't find out how to use the tool for cleaning it's ears. Also, dolfins understood which key to press in order to get something.
- David Pover 14 yearsI think mandrill monkeys are a bit smarter than dolphins because the dolphins did not learn by themselves how to communicate with humans without the help of people. But mandrill monkeys in contrast learned by themselves.Plus I think its cool that the mandrill monkey used a tool out of twigs to clean his nails. The mandrill monkey actually made a tool and used it without any help from humans. And I think that is pretty interesting. Also the other mandrill monkey covered her face to tell people that she wants to be alone. Which is pretty interesting also. Thats why I think the mandrill monkey is smarter.
- Alexandru G over 14 yearsI think that mandrills are smarter then dolphins. The dolphins, although still very smart, delveloped a way to communicate with humans with help from people. The mandrills, on the other hand, developed these behaviors by themselves. The mandrill who covered her face with her hands was very clever and smart. The mandrill who cleaned his nails with a twig was also very smart. This is why I think that mandrills are smarter than dolphins.