托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior: 'tool use' in non-primate species. Many people assume that only primates use tools, but research shows that birds and even insects can use objects to achieve goals. The main point I want to emphasize is that tool use has evolved independently across different species, driven by specific ecological needs, not just intelligence. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the New Caledonian crow. This bird, found in the Pacific, uses twigs to extract insects from tree bark. It even shapes leaves to create hooks, which is quite sophisticated. This behavior likely evolved because the crow's primary food source is hidden in crevices, giving it an adaptive advantage. Second, think of the veined octopus, a marine animal. It collects coconut shell halves, carries them underwater, and later assembles them into a shelter when threatened. This use of shells as portable protection is rare and likely developed because the octopus lives on exposed sandy areas where natural shelters are scarce. So, in both cases, the tool use isn't about general intelligence but about solving specific survival problems in their environments.