Amazing Skill of Sea Otters

How do sea otters break open abalone shells?

Sea otters use stones and rocks to break open abalone shells. A young sea otter observes other sea otters break open shells and thus learns how to perform this task. What type of learning did the young sea otter use to be able to perform this task?

Answer:

The type of learning that the young sea otter used to be able to perform this task is social learning.

Sea otters are incredible creatures that exhibit fascinating behaviors in their everyday lives. One of the most amazing skills of sea otters is their ability to use tools, such as stones and rocks, to break open abalone shells in order to access the delicious flesh inside.

Interestingly, this skill is not instinctual but rather learned through social learning. When a young sea otter observes other sea otters breaking open shells, it learns how to perform this task by mimicking their behavior. This type of learning is known as social learning, which is when an individual learns from others in its society.

In the case of the young sea otter, it didn't figure out on its own that it needs to break open shells to access the food inside. Instead, it watched and replicated the actions of other otters in its community. This demonstrates the intelligence and adaptability of sea otters in utilizing tools and learning through observation.