Wild Tobago

Not only humans use tools. Anjani Ganase looks at some marine animals that utilize objects in their environment to hide, hunt or eat. Tools are defined as objects derived from the environment, attached or unattached, used to complete tasks with greater efficiency or success. We often consider the use of tools as exclusive human practices and the reason for our advancement in technology. However, tool use is common in the animal kingdom and was first recorded by Dr Jane Goodall who highlighted tool use for feeding by the great apes and chimpanzees. The scope of tool use was widened to include animals with limbs, hands, tails etc. capable of holding objects. The concept of “holding” an object was broadened again as researchers observed birds, dolphins and an array of animals using tools for feeding, protection, camouflaging, even for parenting and mating. The types of tools ranged from the very simple to highly sophisticated. Here are some marine animals that utilise...

In the International Year of the Reef 2018, Dr Anjani Ganase speculates how the loss of colour (through bleaching) on coral reefs might affect resident fish populations. Follow IYOR-T&T ( @IYORTT ) and AnjGanase ( @AnjGanase )  on twitter  Have a look around, and see if you can distinguish the shades and intensities of colours that surround you in different levels of light. Remind yourself how vulnerable you feel in the dark. We have evolved sensitivity to colour and intensities of light, a quality crucial for survival. In order to forage for food efficiently, primates must distinguish between red and green colouration, so that in the forests we can pick out the ripe fruits, and also identify any danger lurking among the foliage (Gerl and Morris 2008). For many animals, colour along with other cues, assisted in mating; consider the plumage display of male birds or changes that indicate the females are fertile. For modern man, not being able to colour coordinate m...