Crocodilians use tools for hunting

[CharonY]

As the title says, a paper just came out in which the use of lures by alligators has been reported.

 

V. Dinets, J.C. Brueggen & J.D. Brueggen , Ethology Ecology &

Evolution (2013): Crocodilians use tools for hunting, Ethology Ecology & Evolution, DOI:

10.1080/03949370.2013.858276

 

The abstract:

 

Using objects as hunting lures is very rare in nature, having been observed in just a handful of species. We report the use of twigs and sticks as bird lures by two crocodilian species. At least one of them uses this method predominantly during the nest-building season of its prey. This is the first known case of a predator not just using objects as lures, but also taking into account the seasonality of prey behavior. It provides a surprising insight into previously unrecognized complexity of archosaurian behavior.

 

 

In a photo within the article an alligator was balancing sticks and similar nestbuilding materials on its head. Now they need to learn how to use beer as a lure...

[ewmon]

Very interesting. Crocodiles are apparently smarter than they seem, and from this photo, the crocodile also seems to use sticks to camouflage itself as a log.

 

[imatfaal]

I have heard two southern african game keepers swapping stories about crocs - and the cunning and disturbingly human way they hunt. It would be interesting and thrilling if they were merely little reptiles - the fact they are 20plus feet long, with wicked teeth, and armoured like a tank adds an frisson of terror

[CharonY]

This is the picture from the paper. They use it as a lure (nesting material) and not as camouflage (they are rather log-like while drifting, anyway).

 

Very interesting. Crocodiles are apparently smarter than they seem, and from this photo, the crocodile also seems to use sticks to camouflage itself as a log.

 

Edited December 2, 2013 by CharonY

[arc]

This is the picture from the paper. They use it as a lure (nesting material) and not as camouflage (they are rather log-like while drifting, anyway).

 

 

 

I'm kinda with ewmon on this one. It makes for a rather more realistic log, the nice grouping of multiple branches, the one on the end just begging to be had. It's both bait and camouflage. This guy/gal is a true pro. Their forelegs do not look particularly well suited for hat making, do they find a pile of floating debris and just rise up under it? I could see that happening on accident the first couple of times, the gator not really caring about some sticks on it's nose, then some bird just walks up and stands there tilting its head back and forth trying to decide which stick looks the most appealing. . . . . . Then bang!

 

After several repeat events ending with a "to your door dinner delivery" it would seem like an old habit. But do the other gators learn this from older gators or is it instinctual? I'm going with learned. I know it seems a little crazy, but if this location has the environment to maintain a stable multi generational group I can see it as more of a possibility.

Edited December 3, 2013 by arc

[CharonY]

If you read the abstract (if you cannot access the full article) it appears that there is quite a variance in how they do it, which indicates a somewhat learned behavior. At least one of them appears to have figured out that it only really works during nest building season (thus reinforcing the lure aspect over potential camouflage).