Animal Minds

The neuroscience of behavior in the wild.

Mary Bates Ph.D.

Dolphins Label Their Friends With Names

Do the signature whistles of dolphins really function as names? A new study attempts to get inside their minds.

How Can a Species’ Behavior Inform Its Conservation?

Captive studies of the behavior and cognition of endangered animals could be valuable for informing conservation efforts.

The Social Brains of Primates

How does one's social life impact one's brain? A study of free-ranging monkeys points to links between sociality and the size of specific brain areas.

Bats Still Use Echolocation in Broad Daylight

A new study shows some bats active during the day supplement their already-keen vision with echolocation to avoid obstacles.

Voles Trim Grass to Thwart Flying Predators

New research shows a tiny rodent trims tall grasses to make its habitat safer from predatory birds.

How Birds Outwit Scientists

Scientists had a plan to fit Australian magpies with tracking devices to study their behavior. The birds had other ideas.

Dogs May Grieve the Deaths of Canine Companions

We know domestic dogs can form strong emotional bonds. How do they react when a dog they live with dies?

Chimpanzees Observed Applying Insects to Injuries

Chimpanzees appear to treat their wounds, and the wounds of others, with mashed-up insects. Is this a first in the study of animal self-medication?

This Cat Holds Ecosystems Together

Ecosystems throughout the Western hemisphere need pumas to remain healthy. The actions of these cats affect nearly 500 other species, from plants and insects to deer and wolves.

In the Presence of Older Bulls, Male Elephants Are Less Aggressive

In all-male groups of elephants, older bulls may play an important role in tamping down levels of aggression toward other animals.

Study Uncovers Brain Diversity in Octopuses

MRI scans of four different octopus species' brains reveal that their diversity in habits and habitats is reflected in their neuroanatomy.

Shark Spa Services: Why Fish Deliberately Rub Up Against Sharks

A behavior that has been observed across species and oceans, but many aspects of it remain a mystery.

Do Animals Get Depressed?

Researchers have noticed "depression-like" behaviors in animals used in research and agriculture. Are these animals experiencing something akin to human depression?

Are Some Dogs Geniuses at Learning Words?

Is your dog a genius? Some uniquely gifted dogs can learn multiple object names quickly and remember them for up to two months.

Why Do Some Primate Mothers Carry Their Dead Infants?

Infant corpse carrying by mothers is widespread among primate species. Could patterns of this behavior indicate an awareness of death or feelings of grief?

This Disabled Parrot Invented a Way to Preen Himself

Bruce is a parrot who is missing his upper bill, but that doesn't stop him from looking his best. He came up with an innovative way of preening using pebbles as tools.

Light Pollution Leads Dung Beetles Astray

Dung beetles are just one of the animals that look to the night sky to navigate. What happens when light pollution dims their celestial compass?

Giraffes May Be as Socially Complex as Orcas and Elephants

Giraffes are more than just tall cows. These iconic giants form long-lasting social groups characterized by cooperation and close relationships.

How Cuttlefish Think Outside of the Brain

Neurons in cuttlefish arms show evidence of learning and memory, independent of their main brain.

Hyenas Inherit Their Moms’ Social Connections

Mother knows best in hyena society. The social networks of young hyenas are similar to those of their moms, especially if they are high-ranking.

Drone Footage Reveals Killer Whales’ Secret Social Lives

Filming the social dynamics of killer whales from above has given scientists a whole new way of seeing these creatures.

What Magic Tricks Reveal About Animal Minds

Whether or not animals fall for different magic tricks can tell us a lot about their ways of perceiving the world.

A Test for Animal Consciousness

How can we know if other animals are conscious? Failure on a test of conditioning when distracted could be one way to tell if an animal has an awareness of the "now."

How Do Echolocating Bats Perceive Distance?

Experiments reveal that time perception is innately encoded in the brains of echolocating bats. The results suggest bats discern their world in terms of time, not space.

The Underwater Sharpshooter

Archerfish can accurately spit jets of water to dislodge land-based prey. Now, research shows how their fins help stabilize them against recoil forces.

What Can We Learn From a Monkey Water Park?

Researchers say that learning about how young monkeys amuse themselves at watering holes could shed light on the functions of social play in humans and other animals.

Do Manta Rays Use "Fin Language" to Communicate?

Manta rays seem to use specialized fins called cephalic lobes to gesture towards other mantas, cleaner fish, and human divers. What are they trying to say?

Social Distancing in Nature

Humans aren't alone in using social distancing strategies to mitigate disease transmission. Animals from ants to bats have evolved similar strategies.

Why Do These Giant Sharks Leap Out of the Water?

Basking sharks are known as slow-swimming, gentle giants. Why are they launching their enormous bodies out of the water? It may be to send an acoustic signal to other sharks.

Thinking Like a Pig

How smart are pigs? On a joystick-operated video game task normally given to primates, pigs demonstrated some conceptual understanding, despite their limited dexterity.

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