Clever Fish?

According to mythology, humans are at the top of the evolutionary tree. Our ancestors went through many changes, and we eventually evolved intelligence, so here we are. Kind of curious that all of our alleged ancestors and their relatives didn't do a whole heap of learning and pass along safety tips to the next generations, isn't it? Critters just don't do that.

Assembled from elements at Clker clipart

Seems like our "closest cousins" according to evolutionism would have learned a thing or two as well. But a baboon can still be caught because he reached into a hole for a prize and refused to let go. Apes haven't learned any kind of musical innovation, but some birds have the ability that matches human skills. While fish haven't learned how to avoid nets and do other stupid things, there are some that exhibit skills that surpass those of apes.

Since evolutionary thinking permeates the entire spectrum of biology, scientists are consistently surprised by the mental abilities of creatures thought to be lower on the so-called tree of life. In this mythical tree of evolutionary progression, apes are thought to be at the top of the intelligence scale—second only to humans. But now we have numerous examples of other land creatures, most notably birds, that rival or exceed apes’ mental capabilities.

But what about fish, the supposed ancient ancestors of all land-dwelling animals? With such a low position on the tree of life, they can’t be nearly as smart as apes—can they? Perhaps a few captivating and evolution-negating examples are in order.

To finish reading, swim on over to "Fish as Smart as Apes?"