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Tool use by rodents

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Dan Fingerman

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Mar 30, 2008, 2:45:19 AM3/30/08
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What a Rodent Can Do With a Rake in Its Paw
By Sandra Blakeslee, New York Times, 26 March 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/science/26rodentw.html

But in a laboratory setting, degus can do much more
than play hide-and-seek, according to a study in the
online journal Plos One (www.plosone.org). They can
learn to use tools.

Specifically, degus have been trained to reach
through a fence, grab hold of a tiny rake and pull
their favorite food, half a peeled sunflower seed,
close enough to reach with their mouths. After two
months of practice, researchers say, the degus can
move the rake as smoothly and efficiently as
croupiers in any Las Vegas casino.

--
DTM :<|
DanFingerman.com

Ric Carter

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Mar 30, 2008, 7:14:17 PM3/30/08
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> After two months of practice, researchers say, the degus can move
> the rake as smoothly and efficiently as croupiers in any Las Vegas
> casino.

1. I always knew those casino employees were utter rats.
2. More cheap labour, but at least not illegal aliens.
3. Get'em drunk, give'em the shakes, they'll flunk-out.
4. Submit to our degus overlords! Resistance is futile!

Andrew

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Mar 30, 2008, 11:29:53 PM3/30/08
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I, for one, welcome our rake wielding Rodent Overlords....

--
Andrew
"Right lads, you start coding and I'll go and see what they want"

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