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15 remarkable animals that use tools

By: Bryan Nelson on Oct. 28, 2009, 10:09 a.m.

Two bottlenose dolphins play with a sponge

Photo: Yann hubert/Shutterstock

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Dolphins

The intelligence of dolphins is well-known, but since they have flippers instead of hands, many experts didn't think they used tools. At least not until 2005, when a pod of bottlenose dolphins in Australia were seen tearing off pieces of sponge and wrapping them around their noses, apparently to prevent abrasions while they hunted on the sea floor.

A female chimpanzee holding a stick in the jungle

Crows and ravens

An elephant paints what appears to be a self-portrait.

A Satin Bowerbird stands on a pile of dirt

A chimp uses a stick to get balls out of a box

Two bottlenose dolphins play with a sponge

Egyptian vulture standing on a rock

A small common octopus in an aquarium tank

A woodpecker finch stands on a mossy stump in a forest

Leaf cutter ants carry leaves up a rope

Striated heron with a fish in its bill

A sea otter holds a rock in its paws.

An archer fish in an aquarium tank

A decorator crab covered in various sea floor materials

A wet beaver sits on its own tail

A black palm cockatoo perched on a tree limb

Dolphins

The intelligence of dolphins is well-known, but since they have flippers instead of hands, many experts didn't think they used tools. At least not until 2005, when a pod of bottlenose dolphins in Australia were seen tearing off pieces of sponge and wrapping them around their noses, apparently to prevent abrasions while they hunted on the sea floor.