Reviewed Article

Tool Use, Aye-Ayes, and Sensorimotor Intelligence
Eleanor J. Sterling^a, Daniel J. Povinelli<sup>b

a</sup>Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Göttingen, Germany, and
^bLaboratory of Comparative Behavioral Biology, University of Southwestern Louisiana, New Iberia Research Center, New Iberia, La., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Folia Primatol 1999;70:8-16 (DOI: 10.1159/000021669)

  Key Words

• Daubentonia
• Aye-aye
• Tool use
• Extractive foraging
• Primate intelligence
• Sensorimotor intelligence

  Abstract

Humans, chimpanzees, capuchins and aye-ayes all display an unusually high degree of encephalization and diverse omnivorous extractive foraging. It has been suggested that the high degree of encephalization in aye-ayes may be the result of their diverse, omnivorous extractive foraging behaviors. In combination with certain forms of tool use, omnivorous extractive foraging has been hypothesized to be linked to higher levels of sensorimotor intelligence (stages 5 or 6). Although free-ranging aye-ayes have not been observed to use tools directly in the context of their extractive foraging activities, they have recently been reported to use lianas as tools in a manner that independently suggests that they may possess stage 5 or 6 sensorimotor intelligence. Although other primate species which display diverse, omnivorous extractive foraging have been tested for sensorimotor intelligence, aye-ayes have not. We report a test of captive aye-ayes' comprehension of tool use in a situation designed to simulate natural conditions. The results support the view that aye-ayes do not achieve stage 6 comprehension of tool use, but rather may use trial-and-error learning to develop tool-use behaviors. Other theories for aye-aye encephalization are considered.

  Author Contacts

Daniel J. Povinelli
University of Southwestern Louisiania
New Iberia Research Center
4401 W. Admiral Doyle Drive, New Iberia, LA 70560 (USA)
Tel. +1 (318) 482 02 62, Fax +1 (318) 373 00 57

  Article Information

Received: Received: March 18, 1996
Accepted after revision: July 24, 1997
Number of Print Pages : 9
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 22