Animal social complexity : intelligence, culture, and individualized societies / edited by Frans B.M. de Waal and Peter L. Tyack.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

De Waal, Frans, 1948-2024.

Tyack, Peter L.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mammals--Behavior.

Mammals.

Birds--Behavior.

Birds.

Social behavior in animals.

Learning in animals.

Physical Description:

xiv, 616 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press, [2003]

Summary:

For over 25 years, primatologists have speculated that intelligence, at least in monkeys and apes, evolved as an adaptation to the complicated social milieu of hard-won friendships and bitterly contested rivalries. Yet the Balkanization of animal research has prevented us from studying the same problem in other large-brained, long-lived animals, such as hyenas and elephants, bats and sperm whales. Social complexity turns out to be widespread indeed. For example, in many animal societies one individual's innovation, such as tool use or a hunting technique, may spread within the group, thus creating a distinct culture. As this collection of studies on a wide range of species shows, animals develop a great variety of traditions, which in turn affect fitness and survival.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 495-593) and index.

ISBN:

0674009290

OCLC:

50323258