Smooth-coated otters taught each other to open the containers of food
Smooth-coated otters focus on the behavior of each other in the solution of new tasks to them.
To such conclusion the British scientists who watched as otters open containers of food. The researchers found that the use of social learning strategies otters affected by the closeness of the ties within the group. The article was published in the journal Open Science.
For adaptation in the environment animals can use information obtained through their own experience, and can adapt their behavior from watching other dogs (social learning theory).
It is believed that such adaptation behavior is used by all kinds of animals living in close social groups. However, such studies are often conducted on the example of the behavior of fish, birds and primates.
Now there is evidence that the representatives of the weasel family also used the strategy of social learning for adaptation in their environment.
Authors of new work studied two species of otters: smooth-coated (Lutrogale perspicillata) and East of Beschetnyi otters (Amblonyx cinereus). These two species prefer different types of social organization: smooth-coated otters in groups of four or five individuals and prefer to hunt together, while the Eastern Beschetnyi otters live in groups of about 15 individuals, but often hunt alone.