Otters use rocks to break shellfish because they don't have teeth adapted to do so. These ingenious animals use the natural tools at their disposal to access their food.
Otters use stones because their teeth and claws are not always enough to open very tough shells. Some shells, like mussels and clams, have extremely hard shells to protect their tender, nutrient-rich flesh. Faced with these difficult-to-crack shells, the otter then uses its intelligence and natural skill: it deliberately chooses a stone as a tool to break the shell and easily access its meal. Essentially, using this stone allows the otter to save energy and reduce the wear on its teeth. This intelligent behavior makes hunting much more efficient: faster, less energy-consuming, and, most importantly, more nutritious.
Otters predominantly choose flat, round, and smooth stones, which are easier for them to grasp with their small paws. The stones must be just heavy enough to break the shell effectively, without unnecessarily tiring the animal. Often, they prefer to keep a favorite stone, which they store in a skin pocket under their arms to reuse later. These particular stones serve as a kind of personal tool for each otter, which carefully selects them from those available in their environment.
Otters generally place a flat stone on their belly to create a sort of anvil, then they hit it with the shell to break it open. Alternatively, they do the opposite: they hold the shell on their belly and pound it with a round or pointed stone. They use quick and precise movements, often repeated multiple times until the shell finally cracks. Sometimes, sitting in the water on their backs, they methodically turn the shell between their paws to find the best angle of attack. Some may even keep their favorite stone in a skin pouch under their arm, so they always have it at hand.
By breaking shells with stones, otters gain direct access to high-quality food: the rich flesh of mollusks. Quite handy when the shell is too tough for their teeth. This trick significantly improves access to proteins and fats, which are essential for maintaining their body temperature and energy in often cold aquatic environments. As a result, they maximize their nutritional intake without having to spend all day hunting. A clever stone tactic for a guaranteed good meal!
When otters crack shellfish with stones, they mainly select the larger specimens. This targeting can reduce the presence of adult shellfish in a specific area, impacting their reproduction. As a result, the average size of shellfish may tend to decrease, as the larger ones disappear first. Nevertheless, this phenomenon can provide a small boost to younger and smaller shellfish, which benefit from less intense competition for space and food resources. In the long term, it may even influence the diversity and overall distribution of shellfish species in the otters' habitat.
The ability of otters to use tools is partly transmitted through imitation: young ones observe and learn from their parents and peers by watching them use stones to open their food.
This behavior of using stones allows otters to access nutrient-rich shellfish like clams or mussels, thereby enhancing their survival in coastal ecosystems.
Some otters have a special pouch under their arms to store and carry their favorite stone, which they use repeatedly to crack open shells.
Otters are among the few mammals, alongside some primates and dolphins, known for regularly using tools to obtain their food.
Young otters primarily learn this skill through observation and imitation of their mother. Although the behavior is instinctive to some extent, it is the social transmission between adults and juveniles that refines this technique over time.
Yes, several other animals have the ability to use tools. Chimpanzees use twigs to extract termites, dolphins employ sponges to protect their snouts, and some birds use branches to reach their food.
The use of tools indicates remarkable adaptive intelligence, but defining intellectual superiority between species is delicate. Behavior reflects a great capacity for learning, observation, and adaptation in otters.
In general, no. The behavior of otters plays a positive role in controlling shellfish populations, thereby preventing excessive proliferation. However, a temporary imbalance could occur if otter populations become too high relative to local resources.
No, mainly sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are known for their ability to manipulate stones in order to open shellfish. Other otter species prefer different foraging strategies and use tools less frequently to feed themselves.
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