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
- Alexandru Gover 14 yearsI think that mandrill monkeys are smarter because they thought of these tools and guestures by themselves. The mandrill who covered her face with her hands was esspeically clever. I also think that the mandrill who cleaned his nails with a twig was very smart, too. On the other hand, the dolphins, although still very intelligent, developed these bevhaviors with help from humans. This is why I think that mandrills are smarter than dolphins.
- Dennis Bover 14 yearsI think the mandrill monkeys are smarter because they know good things. Like the 1 monkey, I think her name is Milly, knows a good way to tell people she want people to know she wants to be alone. She covers her face. Other monkeys can do a pedecure.
- Jo$hua Thoma$over 14 yearsI think mandrill monkeys and dolphins are the same exact smart. I think this because dolphins can communicate with humans and mandrill monkeys are using tools people use every day. I think that is amazing!!!!!!
- Ryan Callananover 14 yearsI think dolphins are smarter than mandrill monkeys for many reasons. One reason dolphins are smarter is they mimic moves humans do when playing games. For example they ask for a toy by whistling. This is a reason why dolphins are smarter cause no other animal on earth can copy human movements. A second reason dolphins are smarter is because we can almost understand their language. We almost understand it because in the article on dolphins it said since research has been done on dolphins we can almost crack the code on what the dolphins language is. This is why dolphins are smarter than mandrill monkeys.
- pariseover 14 yearsI THINK THE MONKEY IS CUTE
- Erin Sover 14 yearsI think the mandrill monkey because he figured out how to get some space and make pedicure tools. I thought that was weird and amazing.
- Zachary Medlinover 14 yearsI think the Mandrill monkeys are smarter than the dolphins. I believe this because it said in the article that monkeys learn how to do things on their own. The dolphins have to be trained by trainers. Mandrill monkeys have a sign that tells others that they want to be left alone. The sign is to put their hand over their face. The monkeys also learned to clean themselves with sticks. These are the reasons that I feel that Mandrill monkeys are smarter than dolphins.
- Traeover 14 yearsI think the monkey is smarter because it made it own stuff to make a pedicure.the other monkey put his hand over his face for space.
- Tim P.over 14 yearsWHAAA?
- Brock M.over 14 yearsI think dolphins are the smartest of all. They know how to use keyboards and respond to trainers. In the story, "Scientists And Dolphins Learn How To Talk To Each Other" it said "that dolphins are amongst the most intelligent animals on the planet." This makes me think that they are very smart.