Innovation is the ability to solve new problems or find novel solutions familiar problems, and it known provide animals with crucial fitness benefits. Although this has been extensively studied in some taxa, factors that predict innovation within across species are still largely unclear. In study, we used a foraging task test 111 individuals belonging 13 ungulate species-a understudied taxon. To task, had open transparent opaque cups food rewards, by removing their cover. We assessed whether...

Neophobia (the fearful reaction to novel stimuli or situations) has a crucial effect on individual fitness and can vary within across species. However, the factors predicting this variation are still unclear. In study, we assessed whether characteristics (rank, social integration, sex) species socio-ecological (dietary breadth, group size, domestication) predicted in neophobia. For purpose, conducted behavioral observations experimental tests 78 captive individuals belonging 10 different...

Abstract Innovation is the ability to solve novel problems or find solutions familiar problems, and it known affect fitness in both human non-human animals. In primates, innovation has been mostly studied captivity, although differences living conditions may individuals’ innovate. Here, we tested a wild group of Barbary macaques ( Macaca sylvanus ). four different conditions, presented with several identical foraging boxes containing food. To understand which individual characteristics...

Gaze following is the ability to use others’ gaze obtain information about environment (e.g., food location, predators, and social interactions). As such, it may be highly adaptive in a variety of socio-ecological contexts, thus widespread across animal taxa. To date, has been mostly studied primates, partially birds, but little known on abilities other taxa and, especially, evolutionary pressures that led their emergence. In this study, we used an experimental approach test skills still...

<title>Abstract</title> In animals, high fission-fusion dynamics characterize groups in which individuals frequently split into subgroups of different size and composition, may be linked to the enhancement cognitive skills. However, this hypothesis has rarely been tested. Here, we compared two zebra species with levels dynamics, Chapman’s zebras (<italic>Equus burchelli chapmanni</italic>) Grévy’s grevyi</italic>), assess potential differences their We tested 8 each experimental tasks...

Abstract Primates live in complex social systems with structures ranging from more to less despotic. In despotic species, dominance might impose fewer constraints on choices, tolerance is greater than species and subordinates may have little need include novel food items the diet (i.e. neophilia), as contest competition lower resources equally distributed across group members. Here, we used macaques a model assess whether different styles predict differences neophilia over food. We provided...

In several species, rank predicts access to food, and subordinates may need specific behavioural strategies get a share of resources. This be especially important in despotic where resources are strongly biased favour dominants more rely on tactics maximize food intake. Here, we compared three macaque species with an experimental set-up reproducing feeding competition contest. Following our predictions, tolerant mostly retrieved the presence others were less dependent tactics. Contrarily,...

The ability to make inferences based on statistical information has so far been tested only in animals having large brains relation their body size, like primates and parrots. Here we if giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), despite a smaller relative brain can rely frequencies predict sampling outcomes. We presented them with two transparent containers filled different quantities of highly-liked food less-preferred food. experimenter covertly drew one piece from each container, let the giraffe...

Although behavior, biology, and ecology of giraffes have been widely studied, little is known about their cognition. Giraffes' feeding fission-fusion social dynamics are comparable with those chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), suggesting that they might complex cognitive abilities. To assess this, we tested 6 captive on object permanence, short-term memory, ability to use acoustic cues locate food. First, whether understand objects continue exist even when out sight. Giraffes saw one two opaque...

Abstract Background Comparative cognition has historically focused on a few taxa such as primates, birds or rodents. However, broader perspective is essential to understand how different selective pressures affect in taxa, more recently shown several studies. Here we present the same battery of cognitive tasks two understudied ungulate species with socio-ecological characteristics, European bison ( Bison bonasus ) and forest buffalos Syncerus caffer nanus ), compare their performance...

Non-human primates show an impressive behavioral diversity, both across and within species. However, the factors explaining intra-specific variation groups individuals are yet understudied. Here, we aimed to assess how group size living conditions (i.e., captive, semi-free-ranging, wild) linked in 5 of Barbary macaques (N=137 individuals). In each group, collected observational data on time spent social interactions dominance style, along with experimental tolerance over food neophobia. Our...

The ability to solve novel problems is crucial for individual fitness. However, studies on problem solving are usually done few taxa, with species low encephalization quotient being rarely tested. Here, we aimed study in a non-domesticated ungulate species, European bison, two experimental tasks. In the first task, five individuals were presented hanging barrel filled food, which could either be directly accessed (control condition) or only reached by pushing tree stump enclosure below it...

The ability to discriminate quantities is crucial for animals, by allowing individuals maximize food intake and successfully navigate in their social environment. Here, we compared the quantity discrimination abilities of 9 different species ungulates, testing a total 37 captive subjects including goats (Capra aegagrus hircus), llamas (Lama glama), guanacos guanicoe), Grevy's zebras (Equus grevyi), Chapman's burchelli chapmanni), rhinos (Diceros bicornis michaeli), giraffes (Giraffa...

Abstract Optical illusions have long been used in behavioural studies to investigate the perceptual mechanisms underlying vision animals. So far, three focused on ungulates, providing evidence that they may be susceptible some optical illusions, a way similar humans. Here, we two food-choice tasks study susceptibility Müller-Lyer and Delboeuf 17 captive individuals belonging four ungulate species ( Lama guanicoe, glama , Ovis aries, Capra hircus ). At group level, there was significant...

The ability to discriminate quantities is crucial for humans and other animals, by allowing individuals maximize food intake successfully navigate in their social environment. Here, we used a comprehensive approach compare quantity discrimination abilities (i.e. sets with different of identical items, reliance on item size spatial distribution, existence irrational biases) 9 species ungulates provide novel insight into the socio-ecological conditions that might favor emergence. We tested...

Abstract Optical illusions have been used in behavioural studies recent years to investigate the perceptual mechanisms underlying vision animals. Although susceptibility some has extensively studied species, only two yet carried out ungulates, suggesting that they may perceive optical a way similar humans. Here, we food-choice tasks study Müller-Lyer and Delboeuf 17 captive individuals belonging four ungulate species (Lama guanicoe, Lama glama, Ovis aries, Capra hircus). In control trials,...

RESUMENEstudios en diversas especies animales han mostrado que la capacidad para discriminar entre agrupaciones de diferente tamaño numérico puede proporcionar ventajas adaptativas diferentes contextos funcionales. En el presente estudio, examinar discriminación numérica del pez ángel, Pterophyllum scalare, sometimos a los sujetos una prueba elección binaria presentando simultáneamente dos grupos individuos misma especie pero tamaño. Incluimos modificación metodológica añadiendo un...