Book review of Nature\'s I.Q. (Evolution)

by David Turell , Thursday, August 20, 2009, 02:26 (5573 days ago)

This is not a book review in the sense one normally thinks. I'm reading a book on amazing abilities of animals. I'm going to describe amazing animal instinctual behavior as noted in the book, a little bit at a time. The first section I'd like to mention is instinctual partnerships, not the first section in the book, but it raises interesting Darwinian questions as to how the partnerships arose. Take Cleaner Wrasse fish, who clean the shark's mouth and teeth, or pilot fish who accompany sharks and show them dead flesh food. Pilot fish also clean shark's mouths, and pick parasites off their skin. Pilot fish will also clean manta ray's mouths. Rays and sharks are voracious predators who eat anything that comes their way, but not their companions. How was that behavior learned and incorporated into instinct? Very carefully, and both sides had to work it out. I have no idea. Do the Darwin folks?