Monkeys fish.

June 10, 2008 5:46 PM

Scientists find monkeys who know how to fish. Apparently, they're not the first. Although they might be the first to do so without tools. I, for one, want some sashimi.
posted by HE Amb. T. S. L. DuVal (23 comments total)

Well, maybe it's a perfect day for bananafish.
posted by jonmc at 5:52 PM on June 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Wouldn't the toolful fishers be more interesting? Well, I guess any new behavior is cool. Quit being so anthropocentric!

That said, I'm reminded of this.
posted by DU at 5:53 PM on June 10, 2008

Stupid monkeys, don't they know they should be vegan?!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:53 PM on June 10, 2008

Vegan Monkeys would be a great band name. Really.
posted by jonmc at 5:55 PM on June 10, 2008

Vernor Vinge will be along any second to introduce the concept of a technological singularity.
Sorry, one of my very favorite books.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 5:56 PM on June 10, 2008

I'll be impressed when they find a fish that knows how to monkey.
posted by scblackman at 5:59 PM on June 10, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

On a semi-related note, when did "moment of zen" become a phrase to describe something that's silly and/or dumb? I know the Daily Show uses it to close out every episode, but this use of the phrase makes even less sense. Chimp-fishing-zen? I'm not even sure that means anything at all.
posted by GuyZero at 5:59 PM on June 10, 2008

"It has been suggested, for example, that a broad enough terrestrial diet would ensure sufficient access to docosahexaenoic acid that there is no requirement for high consumption of seafood and accordingly no reason to posit an aquatic phase in human evolution." => IHBT
posted by DU at 6:00 PM on June 10, 2008

Wow. 2005 called and they want my question back. Carry on with the fishing monkeys then.
posted by GuyZero at 6:02 PM on June 10, 2008

I'm guessing their spines are in good shape, then.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 6:21 PM on June 10, 2008

Is this suprising? Bears, birds, spiders, snakes, bats, and even plants know how to fish.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:29 PM on June 10, 2008

Yes, but can it turn into a cat, amirite?
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:34 PM on June 10, 2008

give a monkey a fish and he'll eat for a day. teach a monkey to fish and he'll throw shit in your face.
posted by kitchenrat at 6:38 PM on June 10, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

If these monkeys are catching anything, then they don't yet really know how to fish.
posted by DU at 7:02 PM on June 10, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

It is a perfect day for me!
posted by bananafish at 7:41 PM on June 10, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Chimps, orangutans, gorillas, bonobos, gibbons != monkeys

Simplified heuristic: Apes are the ones that don't have tails. And the ones that do this when offended by someone calling them a monkey.
posted by bergeycm at 7:48 PM on June 10, 2008

I saw a special on chimps hunting monkeys once. Changed my outlook on monkeys as a whole, filthy buggers. Here’s a link to something similar: Roots and Shoots?
posted by BostonJake at 9:00 PM on June 10, 2008

Me? I prefer monkey fishing.
posted by Neale at 10:04 PM on June 10, 2008

Sorry, Neale. Journalists find humans don't know how to fish for monkeys. Apparently, they're not the first. Although they might be the first to do so without tools. I, for one, want some cappuchino.
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:17 AM on June 11, 2008

I dunno Smart Dalek, looks like the problem was that Slate was buying articles from a pretty big tool.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 3:28 AM on June 11, 2008

GuyZero: Chimp-fishing-zen? I'm not even sure that means anything at all.

While reading this comment, I was Enlightened.
posted by ghost of a past number at 4:11 AM on June 11, 2008

Monkeys find scientists goofing off by the lake when they should be back in the lab sciencing!
posted by aftermarketradio at 8:27 AM on June 11, 2008

Study: Orangutan populations declining sharply
posted by homunculus at 1:32 PM on July 5, 2008