title: Innovative behaviour in fish: Atlantic cod can learn to use an external tag to manipulate a self-feeder.
abstract: This study describes how three individual fish, Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.), developed a novel behaviour and learnt to use a dorsally attached external tag to activate a self-feeder. This behaviour was repeated up to several hundred times, and over time these fish fine-tuned the behaviour and made a series of goal-directed coordinated movements needed to attach the feeder's pull string to the tag and stretch the string until the feeder was activated. These observations demonstrate a capacity in cod to develop a novel behaviour utilizing an attached tag as a tool to achieve a goal. This may be seen as one of the very few observed examples of innovation and tool use in fish.
authors.affiliation: Ifremer, Place Gaby Coll BP 7, 17137, L'Houmeau, France, sandiemillot@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Sandie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Millot
authors.forename: Jonatan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Jan Erik
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fosseidengen
authors.forename: Marie-Laure
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bégout
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernö
authors.forename: Victoria A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Braithwaite
authors.forename: Tore S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kristiansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D048389:Gadus morhua / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D053001:Tool Use Behavior