The execution of planned detours by spider-eating predators

Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
Fiona R Cross, Robert R Jackson

Abstract

Many spiders from the salticid subfamily Spartaeinae specialize at preying on other spiders and they adopt complex strategies when targeting these dangerous prey. We tested 15 of these spider-eating spartaeine species for the capacity to plan detours ahead of time. Each trial began with the test subject on top of a tower from which it could view two boxes: one containing prey and the other not containing prey. The distance between the tower and the boxes was too far to reach by leaping and the tower sat on a platform surrounded by water. As the species studied are known to avoid water, the only way they could reach the prey without getting wet was by taking one of two circuitous walkways from the platform: one leading to the prey ('correct') and one not leading to the prey ('incorrect'). After leaving the tower, the test subject could not see the prey and sometimes it had to walk past the incorrect walkway before reaching the correct walkway. Yet all 15 species chose the correct walkway significantly more often than the incorrect walkway. We propose that these findings exemplify genuine cognition based on representation.

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Citations

Jul 28, 2019·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Fiona R Cross, Robert R Jackson
May 23, 2020·Current Zoology·Samuel Aguilar-ArguelloXimena J Nelson
Dec 14, 2017·Animal Cognition·Can KabadayiMathias Osvath
Dec 18, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Valeria Anna SovranoDavide Potrich
Oct 28, 2019·Scientific Reports·Jannis Liedtke, Lutz Fromhage
May 10, 2017·Interface Focus·Fiona R Cross, Robert R Jackson
Jan 15, 2021·Learning & Behavior·Samuel Aguilar-Arguello, Ximena J Nelson
Nov 17, 2020·Protoplasma·Jon MallattLincoln Taiz
Dec 31, 2020·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·Fiona R Cross, Robert R Jackson
Jan 9, 2021·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·Alex M WinsorElizabeth M Jakob

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