Another "Fish Are Intelligent Creatures" article

[erron]

From the Age newspaper today:

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/ ... 67932.html

Thinkers of the deep
By John von Radowitz
London
September 1, 2003

Far from being instinct-driven dunces, fish are now "regarded as steeped in social intelligence".

Fish do not deserve their reputation as the dim-wits of the animal kingdom, according to a group of British scientists.

Far from being instinct-driven dunces, held back by a three-second memory, fish were cunning, manipulative, cultured and socially aware.

In some respects of their intelligence, they could even be favourably compared with non-human primates, it was claimed.

The three scientists from the universities of Edinburgh and St Andrew's in Scotland, and the University of Leeds, said conceptions of the psychological and mental abilities of fish had undergone a "sea change" in the past few years.

Biologists Calum Brown, Keven Laland and Jens Krause wrote in the journal Fish and Fisheries: "Gone (or at least obsolete) is the image of fish as drudging and dim-witted pea-brains, driven largely by 'instinct', with what little behavioural flexibility they possess being severely hampered by an infamous 'three-second memory'.

"Now, fish are regarded as steeped in social intelligence, pursuing Machiavellian strategies of manipulation, punishment and reconciliation, exhibiting stable cultural traditions, and cooperating to inspect predators and catch food."

Recent research had shown that fish not only recognised individual "shoal mates" but monitored the social prestige of others, and tracked relationships.

They had also been observed using tools, building complex nests and bowers, and exhibiting impressive long-term memories.

The scientists added: "Although it may seem extraordinary to those comfortably used to pre-judging animal intelligence on the basis of brain volume, in some cognitive domains, fishes can even be favourably compared to non-human primates."

They said there were 27,000 known species of fish, more than all other vertebrates combined.

Fish were the most ancient of the major vertebrate groups existing today, and exploited virtually every conceivable aquatic environment.

There had been "ample time" for fish to evolve complex, adaptable and diverse behaviour patterns that rivalled those of other vertebrates.

"These developments warrant a re-appraisal of the behavioural flexibility of fishes, and highlight the need for a deeper understanding of the learning processes that underpin the newly recognised behavioural and social sophistication of this taxon," said the scientists.

- PA

[Jackrat]

Awwwww yer reckon,Well the 5lb Kahawai I hooked in sunday was,nt that
smart,But he,s going to make good fish cakes tonight.
Kahawai=thats Oz salmon to you guys.
I wish I could find a job geting payed for rubbish like that.
Seeing as how they swim in schools of thosands,they sure don,t keep each other informed do they.
Maybe they just don,t get on,Huh.
Would be better off trying to feed the worlds starving,Or finding a working replacement for fosil fuels,Or maybe,,,,,Arrrr forget it.
Jack.