Otters are capable of solving puzzles and learning from each other 0 18

Research has shown that otters can not only learn various skills from each other but also solve puzzles independently, reports Phys.org.

Scientists from the University of Exeter conducted experiments with Asian small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinereus) at a New York zoo, offering them "puzzle boxes" containing both familiar food and unfamiliar natural prey. The otters were able to figure out how to extract the meat on their own, despite encountering the protective mechanisms on the boxes for the first time.

Initially, the animals were presented with five different puzzle boxes, each containing a visible meatball — a familiar food. The methods of extracting the food varied: for example, they had to pull a latch by a tab or open a flap. The unfamiliar items for the otters were rainbow trout, shore crabs, and mussels. Out of the 20 otters that participated in the study, 11 individuals managed to get meat from the crabs and mussels, as well as deal with the trout.

The results of the experiment also showed that if one otter is trained to extract food in advance, it can pass on some of this information to its peers.

Populations of the Asian small-clawed otter in the wild are declining, and understanding their behavior may help in developing conservation programs for the species,

— noted the scientists.

The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter in the world. These animals feed on mollusks, crabs, fish, and other small aquatic creatures. They inhabit mangrove and freshwater wetlands and are found in Indonesia, southern China, southern India, Asia, and the Philippines. According to the IUCN classification, they are listed as a vulnerable species.