Social learning in otters

摘要: The use of information provided by others to tackle life's challenges is widespread, but should not be employed indiscriminately if it adaptive. Evidence accumulating that animals are indeed selective and adopt 'social learning strategies'. However, studies have generally focused on fish, bird primate species. Here we extend research social strategies a taxonomic group has been neglected until now: otters (subfamily Lutrinae). We collected association data captive groups two gregarious species: smooth-coated (Lutrogale perspicillata), known hunt fish cooperatively in the wild, Asian short-clawed (Aonyx cinereus), which feed individually prey requiring extractive foraging behaviours. then presented otter with series novel tasks, inferred transmission task solutions network-based diffusion analysis. show can socially learn how exploit food sources may 'copy when young' strategy. found no evidence for otters. Otters thus promising model system comparative into strategies, while conservation reintroduction programmes benefit from facilitating survival skills these vulnerable