For a long time, tool use was thought to be exclusive to #primates and #birds, but #wrasses also use hard surfaces, or "anvils," to crack open hard-shelled prey such as crabs and molluscs. New research using #CitizenScience, and supported by an #FSBISmallResearchGrant, provides the first documented evidence of anvil use in several species of Halichoeres wrasses: https://www.youtube.com/playlist...

For more info or to contribute observations, visit: https://fishtooluse.com

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-025-02633-w

Study reveals #ToolUse in tropical #fish species https://phys.org/news/2025-03-reveals-tool-tropical-fish-species.html

Tool use by New World Halichoeres wrasses https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-025-02633-w

"#Wrasses use hard surfaces, also called 'anvils,' to crack open hard-shelled prey such as #crabs and #mollusks... researchers gathered 16 new observations across five species of #Halichoeres wrasses... suggest the behavior is far more common than previously thought."

IOB

If you're not on bsky with us yet, do come on over (@)sicbjournals.bsky.social

https://bsky.app/profile/sicbjournals.bsky.social/post/3lcur3wajyk2z

to see more about work such as

#Evolutionary Patterns of Modularity in the Linkage Systems of the Skull in #Wrasses & #Parrotfishes

by Gartner, Larouche, Evans & (@)mwestneat

ICB

Now free!

The #Evolutionary Continuum of Functional Homodonty to Heterodonty in the #Dentition of Halichoeres #Wrasses
By
Karly E Cohen, Hannah I Weller, (@)mwestneat , (@)Fishguy_FHL

https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icaa137