Volta's Electric Eels Hunt in Packs

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Very interesting, such behaviour demands a certain sophistication.

I read about this! Super intriguing concept for such a unique and little studied species.

We live in important scientific days, despite Covid. Days where the biggest canine that ever lived is discovered to not be lupine, electric eels hunt together, and all species of river dolphins are now classified as endangered. 

Impressive discovery, nature never stop astonishing us with so much incredible stories !

I didn't know that at all

Fish are much more versatile than they seem at a first glance

How interesting! Thank you so much for sharing this story- animals are much more intelligent than most people think!

Interesting research. The only electric eel figure I am aware of is by Kaiyodo, but it's probably not a Volta's. It was made before it was discovered (in 2019) that there is more than one electric eel species.

Interesting

I remember reading a study years ago- I can't say where now- that discussed intelligence in the African cichlid fish. (There are many species and even genera of African cichlids; I don't know what species was/were studies, though zebras are likely due to their availability and ease of maintenance) I do remember it compared the intelligence of the cichlids to preteen human children of around 12 years. It looked at the ability of the fish to learn by example- the fish could observe other fish being trained, the fish did very well here. They also tested the fish's mathematical ability, they could understand at least to to 8, which is impressive. And look how we treat fish.

Even a dog is not more intelligent than a 4 year old child, so absolutely for sure a cichlid is NOT as intelligent as a 12 year old teen.

P. S. there are many dozens of species of African cichlids that are very easily available in any aquarium shop and very easy to keep. In fact it would be a rare sight if a tank on an aquarium shop selling African cichlids contains only one species, instead four or five intermixed - at least in the shops I visited. Same goes for public aquariums, where is the most usual to have a "Tanganiyka tank" or a "Malawi tank" with a big mix of cichlids of said lakes (Victoria lake cichlids are less popular than the other two).
With Zebra, you mean Zebra mbuna (Maylandia zebra), right? Or Zebra tilapia (Tilapia buttikoferi)? Both species are African and common in aquaculture. Less likely would be the Zebra shelldweller (Neolamprologus similis), Zebra sardine cichlid (Cyprichromis zonatus) or the critically endangered Zebra obliquidens (Haplochromis latifasciatus).

I strongly disagree with you. We generally concieve that mammals and birds are the most intelligent groups on earth, but there is burgeoning science that defies that old way of thinking. Many reptiles like the monitor family and crocodiles are very intelligent and can be trained just like any dog. Fish especially, have more smarts than most people give them credit for. Domestic goldfish and bettas are recorded as being very intelligent amongst their aquatic friends. The issue with most thinking is that anything with a small brain can't be smart but that is simply not true and is proved wrong every day. I admit, it's a difficult thing to quantify, but intelligence surely isn't restricted to humans. We have arbitrary rules for what can be considered "intelligent". Such as the word "cooperative", if an animal doesn't comply to human commands it's considered stupid. I would consider that uncooperative, not unintelligent.

And by the way, Chaser, a border collie,  knew over 1,000 words/commands before she died last year. I wouldn't be one to underestimate the intelligence of other species. Humans just don't know how understand another species' sophistication and we merely scratch the surface with most studies.

I personally knew a black tegu that would come when his name was called, sit and lie down on command (when he felt like it and a treat was in hand). So the reptile brain isn't so slow and stupid necessarily. Having worked around various monitor species, there's a definite intelligence working in them.

Many fish have also impressed me, most notably members of the Cichlidae. But I'm just a layman. All the same, they show good memories- they learn their caretakers vs. strange humans quickly, and whether you're feeding them or cleaning their tank. It all comes down to our extreme anthropocentrism, the further from human something is/seems the lesser it must be. Like how 'fish don't feel pain'. Of course they do, and if you are yourself smart enough to learn to read them they express it loud and clear! They just can't emote with their faces and eyes like a primate does.

The cichlids in the study were most likely mbunas, species or hybrids unknown, as that is generally what is called a 'zebra' here in the states. And I don't think anyone meant that they were in all respects equal to a preteen human- just that in some areas they compared favorably. Learning by example is something some humans never seem to grasp.

Very interesting to read! And of course- Chaser- I never knew she died! That's just so sad, she was the most wonderful and intelligent dog!
All these are very good points- and also it's difficult to categorise because animals show intelligence in different ways. I read an interesting book once about how we are classed as intelligent because of our ability to talk, show emotions, perform complicated tasks, but if you were to tell us to hunt together as a pack like wolves I'm sure our tactics and teamwork wouldn't be close to theirs! There were other examples, but it basically made the point that we are intelligent in what we have to do, and other animals excel in other areas which they need to do.
And this is probably really controversial, but I believe that most animals understand everything we say to them, and know a lot more about the world than we may think. After hearing peoples' experiences with their pets, how they have reacted in certain situations, and after doing lots of research on animal communication, I believe that it is possible to 'talk' to animals, and for them to talk back- but telepathically of course ! It's very hard to believe, but I have read many success stories of this and so now I have been convinced, and I think that it's definitely an area which needs more research. To just read any of Pea Horsley's books (Definitely worth a read) is enough to open your mind about this sort of thing- I still find it hard to believe, but she can talk to rabbits, snakes, mice, as well as horses, dogs, cats- any animals! I probably sound mad, but to put it simply animals are all much more intelligent than we think!

Intelligence ? What a beautiful word.

Seriously, animals are of course far less intelligent than us ! The proof ? Most of them are unable to choose between a Safari ltd, a Papo or a Schleich figurine. I know it is sometimes hard even for great collectors but it is impossible to make a choice for a Cichlid. More than that, none of them can tell us if a model is definitively too big or too small, too static or not enough.
And the worse, none of them is collecting human models, with or without a base. What to say more ?
Humans have bigger brain because they need it to do serious and vital things like discussing about their collecting choice.

Kikimalou wrote:

Intelligence ? What a beautiful word.

Seriously, animals are of course far less intelligent than us ! The proof ? Most of them are unable to choose between a Safari ltd, a Papo or a Schleich figurine. I know it is sometimes hard even for great collectors but it is impossible to make a choice for a Cichlid. More than that, none of them can tell us if a model is definitively too big or too small, too static or not enough.
And the worse, none of them is collecting human models, with or without a base. What to say more ?
Humans have bigger brain because they need it to do serious and vital things like discussing about their collecting choice.

Kikimalou wrote:

Intelligence ? What a beautiful word.

Seriously, animals are of course far less intelligent than us ! The proof ? Most of them are unable to choose between a Safari ltd, a Papo or a Schleich figurine. I know it is sometimes hard even for great collectors but it is impossible to make a choice for a Cichlid. More than that, none of them can tell us if a model is definitively too big or too small, too static or not enough.
And the worse, none of them is collecting human models, with or without a base. What to say more ?
Humans have bigger brain because they need it to do serious and vital things like discussing about their collecting choice.

Yes that is what I try to tell myself! But then I would always love to hope that my dogs understand what I say !
And I laughed imagining a Cichlid collecting human models !

Cichlid would collect frogmen and Chamois some alpinists

Kikimalou wrote:

Cichlid would collect frogmen and Chamois some alpinists  

Kikimalou wrote:

Intelligence ? What a beautiful word.

Seriously, animals are of course far less intelligent than us ! The proof ? Most of them are unable to choose between a Safari ltd, a Papo or a Schleich figurine. I know it is sometimes hard even for great collectors but it is impossible to make a choice for a Cichlid. More than that, none of them can tell us if a model is definitively too big or too small, too static or not enough.
And the worse, none of them is collecting human models, with or without a base. What to say more ?
Humans have bigger brain because they need it to do serious and vital things like discussing about their collecting choice.

Kiki nailed it !

Kiki got it perfect!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Wonderful drawing Kelly!