托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'tool use' — when animals use objects from their environment to achieve a goal. While we often associate tool use with primates or birds, some marine animals also exhibit this behavior. One striking example is the sea otter. Sea otters often feed on hard-shelled prey like clams or crabs. To break the shells, they will find a rock and place it on their chest while floating on their back, then repeatedly smash the prey against the rock until it opens. This is a clear use of a tool to obtain food. Another example comes from the octopus, specifically the veined octopus. This octopus collects discarded coconut shells from the ocean floor. It carries the two halves of the shell with it, and when it feels threatened or needs to rest, it assembles the shells around its body to form a protective shelter. So, both examples show that tool use is not limited to mammals or birds; it has evolved independently in different marine species as a solution to survival challenges.