THE EVOLUTION OF THE USE OF TOOLS BY FEEDING ANIMALS.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine cases of tool-using behavior by animals feeding under natural conditions and to discuss the origin, transmission, and subsequent evolution of this behavior. Hall's important paper (1963) on this subject dealt largely with weapon using by animal species. Van Lawick-Goodall's broad ranging review (1970) is devoted entirely to birds and mammals with heavy emphasis on the chimpanzee. I wish to focus attention on feeding tools and to examine these cases from an evolutionary perspective. In addition, I plan to explore the significance of tool-using behavior by lower animals for an understanding of the evolution of this trait by humans. Hall's central purpose was to debunk the idea that all examples of tool-using are in some way homologous. He was especially successful in demonstrating the illogic of the belief that because humans are intelligent, adaptable tool-users therefore other species which happen to use tools must also possess special intelligence and adaptability. However, Hall, perhaps in reaction to the many ludicrously anthropomorphic misconceptions surrounding the topic, argues that non-human tool-using behavior is virtually irrelevant for an understanding of human evolution. I hope to make a modest case for the opposite position.