11 Animals That Use Tools In Insanely Clever Ways

Dolphins do not make driftwood or shell axes unless they evolve opposable thumbs.Dolphins evolve opposable thumbs.Dolphins work well with what they have.Bottlenose dolphins inhabit Western Australia.Dolphins craft a helmet/mask hybrid to protect their rostra (beak). They call this "sponging": dolphins pick up sea sponges in their mouths and use them when probing the sea floor. The sponge shields them from sharp objects and nasty critters.

Aloha, alala! The 2016 inductee into the exclusive "Animals That Use Tools" club is theThe Hawaiian crow is listed.Hawaiian crow, also known as theAlala is described.Only about 100 of these crows exist. Researchers found in September 2016 that 93% of the population use sticks to dig food from a log hole. They also modify the sticks, like humans use sporks, and discard poor ones. If they find no good stick, they make their own from plants.

Two types of wasps exist.These wasps have been observed.using small pebbles as hammers. This makes the bug scarier. Only female wasps do this; they use it to close underground burrows. Sometimes, they take dirt pellets and "pulverize" them with head blows to secure homes, but this fails sometimes. Clever wasps use pebbles in their mandibles as hammers to pound dirt into a tight plug.

Woodpecker finches of the Galapagos Islands recycle fallen cactus spines in a clever way.Finches use the spines as deadly weapons.Researchers say finches hold spines in their beaks, "extending their bodies." This lets them push, stab, or lever bugs out of tree holes. They select spines carefully: they shorten them if they are too long and reuse the same one if it works. Baby finches do not learn from adults; they learn by trying and failing, and some adults never use the spines.

Even tiny insects use tools. Scientists saw four species of antsAnts smear jelly on leaf fragments.in tests. The ants found the jelly researchers placed. After waiting "5 to 60 seconds" (planning?), they returned with leaves, placed them on the jelly, and spent "30 to 60 minutes" adding and moving leaves before dragging the jelly-smeared leaves back to the colony, likely to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

This one is nasty: theCassida rubiginosa is a beetle.The beetle uses a "..."The beetle uses a fecal shield.to protect against predators. The beetle is not farting; it isThe beetle literally...Beetles make a shield from their poop and dead skin. They hold this shield up above their back using a two-pronged fork sticking from the abdomen. This poop shield helps the beetles fend off attacking ants. Beetles skillfully move the shield toward the attack and use it when humans prod them in lab settings.

The crafty species is the only one on Earth that makes hooks to catch food.The New Caledonian Crow is on the list '11 Animals That Use Tools In Insanely Clever Ways'.Crows do more than bend sticks. Researchers call the process a complex, multi-stage action. Crows select a suitable forked plant stem. They cut and discard unnecessary parts. Then, they shape what remains into a hook using their beaks and claws. Crows also use the barbed edge of a pandanus leaf as a simple hook tool.

Thanks to the New Caledonian Crow.Jane Goodall.Jane Goodall shows the world chimps use straw and grass blades to "fish" for termites. Research shows chimps use more than that. Some chimps use a shovel-like stick to poke termite mounds. Then, they use a larger "puncturing stick" to drill holes in them. They then use their teeth to modify a "fishing probe" to fray the edges, making it work better.then the Common Chimpanzee.chimps break out the familiar "fishing probe" to hunt termites. They sometimes modify this probe with their teeth to fray the edges for better results.

A diver held the Blackspot tuskfish.first sawThe blackspot tuskfish used a rock on the ocean floor to smash a clam open in 2011 while exploring the Great Barrier Reef. This was the first time a fish was caught on camera using a tool. Some scientists argue this counts as tool use because fish have limited tool capabilities. Others say tool use only counts if the animal holds the tool.held the Blackspot tuskfish.Call it what you want, but you hold it.have the Blackspot tuskfish.Check the video above. This is one clever fish.The Blackspot tuskfish is clever.The Blackspot tuskfish is fish.

When forest fires start, animals usually run first. Black kites sometimes stay. They do this because sometimes they cause the fire. In Australia, these birds cause fires to smoke out small mammals and insects from hiding spots. Aboriginal people call them "Firehawks." Black kites take smoldering brush or wood to start a bigger fire. Then, they team up and attack any animal running to safety.The Black Kite sometimes caused the fire.. In Australia, these birds cause fires to smoke out small mammals and insects from their hiding place. Called "Firehawks" by Aboriginals, black kites take smoldering brush or wood and use it to start a larger fire. They then band together and pick off any unsuspecting animal fleeing to safety.

It is clear howBoxer crabs got their name because they use sea anemones as boxing gloves.Boxer crabs, also called pom-pom crabs, snip parts of a sea anemone to cover their claws before fighting. Sea anemones have stinging cells that add power during a fight. This arrangement helps both sides. The "pruning" by boxer crabs lets sea anemones manage their reproduction.