Wrasse using tools.

A polish scientist has made public his observations of one of the first cases a fish using tools?

The observation made by a Dr L Pasko found that when a particular wrasse was fed solid pellets and they were a bit to big not easy swallow or reduce in size it carried out an amazing action.

The fish would take the hard pellet to a part of the substrate that could be used as an anvil to reduce the pellet into pieces smaller in size easier to swallow.

The experiment was carried out umpteen times to make sure this was not a one off and the facts stand that this fish selected the same rock in the same way in the same place.

This means the fish is capable of learning a new thing and remembering how to do it next time using an actual tool so to speak.

The observations carried out agree with evidence for other advanced cognitive abilities in members of the genus Thalassoma and suggest that rocks with rough surfaces should be provided to these fish, especially when they receive hard food for variety.

Pasko said that there are few cases of fish using either tools or substrate anvils as pseudotools.

The actual study of this is due out in the next, journal Zoo Biology.

The genus indicated in this story is the one in which the two very common local wrasse in these pics belong.

how interesting ----- that would be so facinating to observe

Thats very cool,we see that heaps of times in the wild and in the aquarium wrasse using solid structures to break open a crab or what ever.

Those Jansenii are nice fish and all over the place as well..