Re:Dolphins' elaborate octopus-hunting strategy
by krzat on Thursday April 06, 2017 @04:27AM
(#14048865)
Maybe the only reason for dolphins not having civilisation is lack of hands.
Re:Dolphins' elaborate octopus-hunting strategy
by probablah on Thursday April 06, 2017 @09:06AM
(#14050114)
So what? They're under water. If anything that makes it easier to alter their environment with lasting effects. In calm waters, it would be trivial to dig trenches and stack rocks, to create structures, as hunting traps or dens.
Either way, the octopus is similarly prehistoric, despite readily prehensile appendages.
Nor does a lack of hands readily explain the level of elephant intelligence, given a prehensile trunk.
Re:Dolphins' elaborate octopus-hunting strategy
by psyc on Thursday April 06, 2017 @08:22AM
(#14049873)
There are plenty of people who question whether agrarian civilization was a smart move.
Re:Dolphins' elaborate octopus-hunting strategy
by probablah on Thursday April 06, 2017 @09:07AM
(#14050129)
And there are also plenty of animals that question whether their own role in human agrarian society is a smart move.
Hint: the animals are less intelligent for doing so.
Re:Dolphins' elaborate octopus-hunting strategy
by leephillips on Friday April 07, 2017 @09:20AM
(#14059354)
Douglas Adams has done some interesting research along these lines.
So, probably as intelligent as nomadic pre-historic humans. I wouldn't rate that as "highly" intelligent. Just somewhat intelligent.
These are still pre-historic dolphins, since they don't seem to record history for themselves yet. If they carry oral traditions, they seem to be limited to hunting techniques, and not specific events and personalities measured across time. There is no evidence of symbolism invented by dolphins.